Ferroelectric composites and ceramics based on stillwellite-like solid solutions

Stillwellite-like LaBGeO5 exhibits promising pyroelectric properties that were observed for both single crystal and glass-ceramic textures. To increase pyroelectric coefficient in the room temperature range, it is worth trying to create stillwellite-like solid solutions diminishing ferroelectric phase transition point, Tc. However such an attempt has been carried out only for LaBSiO5 stillwellite doped with Pb(Ca)BPO5. Taking into account the higher pyroelectric activity of LaBGeO5 as compared to LaBSiO5, in the present work existence of solid solutions in the LaBGeO5–LaBSiO5 and LaBGeO5–Pb(Ca)BPO5 systems was explored and Tc composition dependency was determined. It can be supposed that compositions in the range LaBGe0.2-0.4Si0.8-0.6O5 are good candidates to develop new high-effective pyroelectrics in form of ceramics, composites or textures.