Structural and relaxor behavior of (Ba1-xLax)(Ti0.85Sn0.15)O3 ceramics obtained by solid state reaction

Abstract

The effect of lanthanum (La) substitution on dielectric behavior of BaTi0.85Sn0.15O3 ceramics which exhibits a broad maxima near room temperature in its ε{lunate}′ vs T plots has been studied. (Ba1-xLax)(Ti0.85Sn0.15)O3 ceramics with x = 0.00, 0.01 and 0.03 have been prepared by solid state ceramic method. X-ray diffraction patterns indicated that these ceramics presents a cubic structure at room temperature. (Ba1-xLax)(Ti0.85Sn0.15)O3 ceramics with x = 0.01 and 0.03 exhibit relaxor behavior. Diffuseness of phase transition was determined by full width at half maxima in ε{lunate}′ vs T plots, increases with increasing La substitution. (Ba0.97La0.03)(Ti0.85Sn0.15)O3 falls under capacitors Z5U category. Hysteresis loop measurement shows that coercive field and remanent polarization both decreases with increase of La in the lattice. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.