Influence of calcium titanate on dielectric and ferroelectric properties of lead-free NBT-based composites

Lead-free ceramics (1-x)Na 0.5 Bi 0.5 TiO 3 + (x) CaTiO 3 (NBT-CT ) where x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, and 1 are prepared by sol–gel chemical route. The individual phases are combined with weight ratio for composites. X-ray diffraction studies are done for the samples, which indicate two phases rhombohedral and orthorhombic with CT composite. The SEM studies clearly indicate that the grain size of the samples decreases with CT content. From the FTIR spectra, Ti–O band assignments and band positions are identified. Dielectric properties of the samples are exhibiting variations in transition temperature of NBT with CT. Piezoelectric studies indicated high d 33 value of NBT for low content of CT. The polarization versus electric field (P vs E) studies show lossy hysteresis loops.