Dielectric Relaxation Phenomena in some Lead and Non-Lead Based Ferroelectric Relaxor Materials: Recent Advances

Relaxors with general formula AA'BB'O3with different cationic distributions at A/B-sites have important device applications in capacitors, piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers, electrostrictive actuators, SAW substrates, etc. The doping or compositional changes in these ceramics can control the high electromechanical characteristics. Lead zirconate titanates (PZT) - based solid solutions exhibit excellent electrochemical properties and are widely used as actuators, transducers, ceramic filters, resonators, sensors and other electronic devices, due to their excellent piezoelectric properties. Although, there has been a concerted effort to develop leadfree piezoelectric ceramics, no effective alternative to PZT has yet been found; most other materials that possess high dielectric and piezoelectric coefficients still contain lead ions. Dielectric relaxation in these materials is of fundamental importance. Recently, new relaxor ferroelectric materials (Pb (B1/3Nb2/3)O3types) have been reported by our group in which the dielectric relaxation character is different from that observed in typical lead based relaxors. In the first part of the review, relaxor characteristics, strategies to synthesize phase pure lead based relaxors and dielectric relaxation phenomena are presented. Deviation of the frequency dependent susceptibility from Curie-Weiss law is analysed both in terms of Gaussian and Lorentzian formalisms. Lead based ferroelectric relaxor materials, due to environmental, health and social reasons are not preferred in devices and attempts are being made to eliminate the lead content from these materials. Sodium bismuth titanate (Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3, abbreviated as NBT), is considered to be one of the excellent candidates for lead-free piezoelectric material. However, pure NBT piezoelectric ceramics are difficult to pole due to its relatively large coercive field and high electrical conductivity. Therefore, many solid solutions of NBT with other ceramics are proposed to improve the relevant properties. In the second part of the review, relaxor behaviour of newly developed solid solutions of NBT is discussed. Finally, the future scope of research on these advance materials is presented.