Phase transition behaviors of (1–x)Pb(Yb1/2Nb1/2)O3–xBa(Yb1/2Nb1/2)O3 ceramics

The phase transition behaviors of (1–x)Pb(Yb1/2Nb1/2)O3–xBa(Yb1/2Nb1/2)O3 (PBYN) solid solution system (0⩽x⩽0.30) have been investigated by X-ray diffraction, permittivity and E–P hysteresis loop measurements. In the solid solution, for x⩽0.10, the transition shows a normal first-order paraelectric (PE)–antiferroelectric (AFE) behavior and its AFE crystal structure is orthorhombic. The transition temperature gradually decreases with the increasing Ba2+ concentration. On the composition range 0.16⩽x⩽0.30, a typical relaxor behavior is displayed. The low temperature crystal structure is pseudocubic in this composition range.