Piezoelectric and dielectric properties of PZT–PZN–PMS ceramics prepared by molten salt synthesis method

Piezoelectric powders and ceramics with the composition of Pb0.95Sr0.05(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3–Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3–Pb(Mn1/3Sb2/3)O3 (PZT–PZN–PMS) were prepared by molten salt synthesis (MSS) and conventional mixed-oxide (CMO) methods, respectively. The influence of synthesis process on the properties of powders and ceramics were investigated in detail. The results show that the MSS method significantly improved the sinterability of PZT–PZN–PMS ceramics, resulting in an improvement of dielectric and piezoelectric properties compared to the CMO method. The optimum values of MSS samples are as follows: ɛr = 1773; tan δ = 0.0040; Tc = 280 °C; d33 = 455 pC/N; kp = 0.70; Qm = 888; Ec = 10.3 kV/cm; and Pr = 28.2 μC/cm2, at calcination of 800 °C and sintering of 1120 °C temperature.