Structural defects and electrical properties of Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 crystal

It is well known that ferroelectric relaxors with high piezoelectric and electro-optic coefficients are perspective for applications in electro-optic modulators, piezoelectric transducers, sensors and actuators. Today´s environmental requirements stimulate efforts to create alternative lead- free piezoelectric materials, which should substitute for lead-based perovskite Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 systems up to now used all over in industry. It is known that mobile and slow-relaxing dipolar defects sufficiently modify physical properties of dielectrics. Thermal treating in different atmospheres and at various temperatures makes possible to control the content of the proper structural defects such as oxygen vacancies.