Effects of ZnO on the piezoelectric properties of Pb (Mn1/3Sb2/3 )O3 -Pb (Zr,Ti )O3 ceramics

Perovskite-type 0.05 Pb(Mn1/3Sb2/3)O3-0.95 Pb(Zr0.5Ti0.5)O3 (PMS-PZT) was synthesized by conventional bulk ceramic processing technique. ZnO as a dopant up to 0.5 mol% was incorporated into the PMS-PZT system, and the effects on piezoelectric properties were investigated. Pyrochlore phase was not detected to form during the synthesis of the PMS-PZT system with 0∼0.5 mol% ZnO addition. The highest density of 7.92 g/cm3 was obtained when sintered at 1200°C for 2 hrs. Piezoelectric properties as a function of ZnO content were evaluated using a gain phase analyzer. Piezoelectric charge constant (d31) and piezoelectric voltage output coefficient (g31) increased up to −130 pC/N and −24.9 × 103Vm/N, respectively, with increasing ZnO content. Mechanical quality factor (Qm) was shown to reduce considerably with increasing ZnO content. When 0.3 mol% of ZnO was added into the system, electromechanical coupling factor (kp) and relative dielectric constant () reached to the maximum of 56% and 1,727, respectively.