Effects of sintering temperature on the properties of donor-acceptor codoped Ba0.67Sr0.33TiO3 ceramics for pyroelectric infrared detector applications

Ba0.67−xYxSr0.33Ti1−yMnyO3 [(Mn+Y: BST), x=0.006, y=0.005] ceramics were fabricated via using citrate–nitrate combustion derived powder, and their microstructure, dielectric properties and pyroelectric properties were systemically investigated within sintering temperature ranged from 1200 °C to 1310 °C. Slight agglomerated BST powders, with nano-size parties, were produced at calcining temperature of 800 °C. Sintering temperature has a great influence on the microstructure and electrical properties of the ceramic samples. The dielectric and pyroelectric properties are improved with sintering temperature increased from 1200 °C to 1280 °C. At room temperature, the Mn+Y: BST ceramics sintered at 1280 °C for 3 h exhibit optimal electrical properties: dielectric loss tan δ=0.007, intrinsic pyroelectric coefficient γ=773 nC/cm2 K and figure-of-merit FD=134.5 μPa−0.5 at 100 Hz, respectively. Improvement of pyroelectric properties is beneficial to the development of infrared detectors.