Texture development and dielectric properties of SrBi2Ta2O9 ceramics processed by templated grain growth

SrBi2Ta2O9 (SBT) textured ceramics were produced by templated grain growth (TGG) using anisometric templates grown by self-flux solution method. SBT templates (5 wt.%) with the dimensions ∼40 μm × 40 μm × 8 μm were embedded in a fine-grained matrix of SBT powder containing a 3 wt.% of Bi2O3 excess and partially aligned by conventional uniaxial pressing. Textured SBT ceramics characterized by a Lotgering factor f ≈ 0.4 could then be obtained after sintering at 1250 °C for 2 h. The influence of the pressing and sintering conditions on texture development was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). Significant improvement of the dielectric and ferroelectric properties was observed when measurements are performed perpendicularly to the pressing direction. This improvement was attested to the apparent alignment of the templates, dielectric anisotropy of SBT and texturing effect due to TGG.