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

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 d ₃₃ 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, d ₃₃ 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.