Effect of CeO2 concentration on dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of PMN-PT (67/33) composition

Lead magnesium niobatex2013;lead titanate13; [Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3x2013;PbTiO3] powders doped with different13; mole % of CeO2 were prepared by a modified columbite13; route with compositions corresponding to morphotropic13; phase boundary (MPB) region. These powders were calcined13; at 800 C for 4 h and circular test specimens were13; prepared by uniaxial pressing. The specimens were sintered13; at 1150 C/2 h, poled at 2 kV/mm d.c. voltage and were13; characterized for dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric13; properties. It was observed that the piezoelectric and ferroelectric13; properties initially increase up to 2 mol% of13; ceria addition and then decrease with increase in ceria13; concentration. The diffusivity of the dielectric curves increases13; with increase in ceria concentration. The decrease13; in Curie temperature was observed from 173 C corresponding13; to pure PMNx2013;PT to a temperature of 138 C for13; 10 mol% of ceria addition