Development of PZN-PMN-PZT Piezoelectric Ceramics with High d₃₃ and Q_m Values

To achieve good long-term temperature stability in devices used in energy-conversion applications, this study is aimed at developing combined ceramics, referred to as PZN-PMN-PZT, comprising Pb(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃ (PZN) and Pb(Mn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃ (PMN), which are typical relaxor ferroelectric materials, and Pb(Zr_,Ti)O₃ (PZT). The piezoelectric properties were compared based on several parameters according to the change in the composition ratio between relaxor materials, amounts of Sb₂O₃ dopant, and Zr/Ti ratio in the PZT system. Finally, we established optimal poling conditions to improve the electrical properties of the optimized piezoelectric material, based on the evaluation of ceramic properties according to the applied voltage during the poling process. The optimized composition of the investigated piezoelectric ceramics is represented by 0.14PZN-0.06PMN-0.80PbZr_0.49Ti_0.51 + 0.3 wt.% CuO + 0.3 wt.% Fe₂O₃ with 0.1 wt.% Sb₂O₃ doping, which yielded the superior properties (d₃₃ = 361 pC/N, Q_m = 1234, T_c = 306 °C).