An Overview of Some Nonpiezoelectric Properties of BaTiO3 Ceramics Doped by Eu Ions

Ferroelectric ceramics BaTiO3:x%Eu (x = 0, 0.1, 1, 2, 3) were synthesized by a conventional method. Structural investigation confirmed that all ceramics possessed tetragonal (P4mm) symmetries at room temperature for the undoped ceramics as well as for the doped ceramics. Furthermore, a slight downshifting of the Curie temperature (TC) with an increasing Eu3+ doping amount has been noted. The Raman spectra unveiled the existence of new modes for higher-doped BaTiO3:x%Eu (BTEx) which are related to local disorders and defects. The ferroelectric properties were found to depend on both doping and the microstructure. The electrocaloric effect was also studied for those ceramics. It was observed that ΔT decreases with doping; however, the temperature range of its occurrence widens considerably.