Low-temperature sintering of (Pb 1− x Cd x )(Zr 0.965 Ti 0.035 )O 3 ferroelectric ceramics for multilayer device application

Abstract

Low-temperature sintering behaviour and ferroelectric properties of lead zirconate titanate (PZT95/5) ferroelectric (FE) ceramics doped with CdO were investigated. The addition of CdO significantly promoted the densification and decreased the sintering temperature of PZT95/5 ceramic. When the addition of CdO content is 1 mol-%, PCZT95/5 ceramics with a relative high density of approximately 97.5% can be obtained by sintering at 1100°C and exhibits excellent electric properties with d₃₃ values of 65 pC/N, this d₃₃ value is close to that of PZT95/5 ceramic sintered at 1350°C. With an increase in the CdO content, the FE phase content decreases and the antiferroelectric (AFE) phase content increases gradually. When the CdO content is 2 mol-%, the most of FE phase of PCZT 95/5 ceramics changes to AFE phase, the polarisation value is quite small and the d₃₃ value drops to zero.