Phase transition, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of Bi(Mg_0.5Zr_0.5)O₃-modified BiFeO₃–BaTiO₃ lead-free ceramics

(0.725 − x)BiFeO₃–0.275BaTiO₃–xBi(Mg_0.5Zr_0.5)O₃ + 1 mol% MnO₂ lead-free ceramics (x = 0–0.08) were synthesized by a conventional solid state reaction method and the effects of Bi(Mg_0.5Zr_0.5)O₃ on phase transition, piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties of the ceramics were investigated. After the addition of Bi(Mg_0.5Zr_0.5)O₃, the crystal structure of the ceramics is transformed from rhombohedral to tetragonal phase and the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) of rhombohedral and tetragonal phase is formed at x = 0.01. The grain size of the ceramics increases with x increasing from 0 to 0.02 and then decreases with x further increasing. The dielectric peak of the ceramics becomes diffusive with x increasing after the addition of Bi(Mg_0.5Zr_0.5)O₃. The ceramics with x = 0–0.08 exhibit much better electric insulation with the resistivity of 1.0 × 10⁹–5.0 × 10⁹ Ω·cm than pure BiFeO₃ ceramic with the resistivity of ~5 × 10⁷ Ω·cm. Due to the formation of the MPB, the ceramics with x = 0–0.02 possess good densification with the relative densities ρ _r of 94.9–96.3 %, strong piezoelectricity with the d ₃₃ of 129–135 pC/N and very high Curie temperature with the T _C of 559–610 °C.