Microstructure and dielectric properties of Pb0.94La0.06Nb2O6 ceramics

Pb0.94La0.06Nb2O6 ceramics were prepared by solid state reaction of high energy ball milled precursor powders. Calcination temperature of the milled precursor was lowered to 850 °C. Single orthorhombic phase was obtained after the ceramics were sintered at 1205 °C and 1230 °C. Lattice parameters, porosity and grain size were all affected by sintering temperature. A normal ferroelectric–paraelectric phase transition was observed at Curie temperature. The ceramic sintered at 1230 °C showed Curie temperature of 525 °C, piezoelectric constant of 62.3 pC/N, electromechanical coupling factor of 0.3342 and mechanical quality factor of 11.64, making it a potential candidate as high-temperature piezoelectric transducers.