Enhanced mechanical quality factor of BiScO3–PbTiO3 piezoelectric ceramics using glass composition

Abstract

Compared with pure Pb-based perovskite ferroelectric materials, Bi(Me)O₃–PbTiO₃ (Me = Sc³⁺, In³⁺, Yb³⁺) have attracted attention due to their remarkable advantage in their Curie temperature. Among them, BiScO₃–PbTiO₃ piezoelectric ceramic is a potential piezoelectric material in high-temperature applications for its high Curie temperature and excellent piezoelectric coefficient. However, its shortcomings are high dielectric loss and low mechanical quality factor. Herein, we report the improvement of the mechanical quality factor of 0.36BS–0.64PT ceramics through the addition of glass composition (GeO₂). There is a small change in the Curie temperature after GeO₂ addition. The piezoelectric coefficient d₃₃ and planar electromechanical coupling factor k_p increase first and then decrease, and the mechanical quality factor Q_m monotone increases with an increase in GeO₂. The 0.36BS–0.64PT + 0.5 mol%GeO₂ ceramics have optimal electrical properties with T_C of 455 °C, d₃₃ of 385 pC N⁻¹, k_p of 58%, and Q_m of 90. In addition, the thermal stability of 0.36BS–0.64PT + xGeO₂ and 0.36BS–0.64PT ceramics is almost the same. It was concluded that the mechanical quality factor of BS–PT ceramics can be enhanced by the addition of GeO₂ with other properties remaining unchanged.