Enhanced piezoelectric properties and lowered sintering temperature of Ba(Zr0.07Ti0.93)O3 by B2O3 addition

The effects of B₂O₃ doping on densification, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties of Ba(Zr_0.07Ti_0.93)O₃(BZT) ceramics were investigated. The addition of B₂O₃ to the ceramics lowered the sintering temperature by ～200 °C as well as changed their microstructures. Higher B₂O₃ concentration caused a decrease in remanent polarization and coercive field, while the piezoelectric coefficient d₃₃ remained at a high value of 291 pC/N for the ceramic sample with 2 wt.% B₂O₃. The relationship between piezoelectric properties and ferroelectric constant was examined.