Effect of excess Bi2O3 on the electrical properties and microstructure of (Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3 ceramics

(Bi_1/2Na_1/2)TiO₃ ceramics (BNT) with 0–6 mol% of excess Bi₂O₃ are prepared by conventional solid-state sintering. The electrical properties of the samples are examined. The addition of excess Bi₂O₃ reduces the leakage current of BNT ceramics significantly, thus facilitating the poling process, and improves their piezoelectric properties slightly for certain amounts of added Bi₂O₃. BNT ceramics have very high dielectric constants and dissipation factors at low frequency and high temperature due to their high conductivity. Adding excess Bi₂O₃ to BNT ceramics affects their dielectric behavior and phase transition temperatures. Grain growth is suppressed by adding Bi₂O₃ and no second phase is observed for BNT ceramics with up to 6 mol% of excess Bi₂O₃ added.