Preparation and Characterization of A New Ferroelectric Ternary Solid Solution Pb(Lu sub(1/2)Nb sub(1/2))O sub(3)-Pb(Mg sub(1/3)Nb sub(2/3)) O sub(3)-PbTiO sub(3)

Ceramics of (0.7-x)Pb(Lu sub(1/2)Nb sub(1/2))O sub(3)-0.3Pb(Mg sub(1/3)Nb sub(2/3))O sub(3)xPbTiO sub(3)(PLN-PMN-PT) (0.38 [< or =, slant] x [< or =, slant] 0.46) ternary system were synthesized by means of a two-step columbite precursor method which can effectively suppress the pyrochlore phase. A morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) region in the ternary systems was found in the range of 0.40 [< or =, slant] x [< or =, slant] 0.44 and the electric properties of the compositions near MPB region were investigated. Those compositions within MPB exhibit good comprehensive piezoelectric properties. The ceramic with composition of 0.29PLN-0.3PMN-0.41PT shows a high Curie temperature of 270[degrees]C and a high rhombohedral-tetragonal phase transition temperature of 135[degrees]C, whose piezoelectric coefficient d sub(33), coercive field E sub(c) and remnant polarization P sub(r) are found to be 460 pC/N, 14.8 kV/cm and 34.6 mu C/cm super(2), respectively. The large coercive field and high T sub(c) enable it a promis