Dielectric and pyroelectric properties of barium strontium calcium titanate ceramics

(Ba0.6Sr0.3Ca0.1)TiO3 powders were prepared by the sol-gel method using a solution of Ba, Sr and Ca acetate and Ti isopropoxide, and the specimens doped with MnCO3 (0.1 mol%) and Y2O3 (0.5 mol%) were fabricated by the cold isostatic press method. The urethane pot and zirconia ball were used in the mixing and grinding process, and the green pellets were sintered at 1450 °C for 2 h in the alumina crucible. The specimen exhibited a dense and void-free grain structure with grain size of about 3 μm. The dielectric constant and the dielectric loss at Curie temperature were 16,600 and 1.2%, respectively. The specimen under a 4 kV cm−1 DC bias field showed the maximum pyroelectric coefficient of 550×10−9 C cm−2 K-1 at Curie temperature. The figure of merit F.M.D∗ for specific detectivity (D∗) of the specimen, applied with DC 8 kV cm−1 bias field, was the highest value of 17.6×10−9 C cm J−1 at Curie temperature.