EFFECT OF Pr DOPING ON FERROELECTRIC BEHAVIORS OF Pb(Zr0.65Ti0.35)O3
Pr -doped Pb ( Zr 0.65 Ti 0.35) O 3 ( Pb 1-x Pr x( Zr 0.65 Ti 0.35)1-x/4 O 3, PPZT) ceramic samples are prepared using conventional solid-state sintering method, and their structural, dielectric, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties are investigated, focusing on the effects of Pr -doping. Upon increasing Pr doping level x, a transition of the crystallographic structure from rhombohedral symmetry to tetrahedral and finally to pseudocubic symmetry is observed at x ~ 0.08. The detailed dielectric measurements present a clear indication of relaxor-like behaviors at x = 0.08, while the samples at x < 0.08 offer slightly improved ferroelectric properties compared with pure Pb ( Zr 0.65 Ti 0.35) O 3. In spite of the dielectric relaxor behaviors induced by Pr -doping, both the ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of PPZT are degraded at x = 0.08. The physics underlying the Pr -doping induced relaxor behaviors is then discussed.