Synthesis and Characterization of Ba doped Bismuth Sodium Titanate (BNT)

Abstract

Oxide materials with perovskite structure having the general formula ABO3, form the backbone of the ferroelectrics industry. For a long time, ferroelectric materials have come into widespread use in applications that range in sophistication from medical, ultrasound and underwater sonar systems, smoke detector buzzers to novel applications in active and passive damping systems for sporting goods and automobile and aerospace sectors. However, an attention has been focused across the globe to find out new environment-friendly lead-free ferroelectric materials. The (Bi0.5Na0.5) TiO3 (BNT) based composition is reported as the promising for piezoelectric applications. Application of BNT into practical devices has been hindered by leakage problems that lead to low resistivity. In order to reduce the problems mentioned here, the method of forming binary solid solutions with other perovskites with good dielectric properties was adopted. Bismuth Sodium Titanate (Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3) was prepared by sol gel autocombustion method. Calcination of the sample prepared through sol gel method was done at 750°C for 10 hours. XRD of the samples was done in which a single perovskite phase was confirmed. The samples were sintered using the conventional sintering method at 780°C for 10 hours. SEM images of the samples were taken which showed dense microstructure and uniform grain size. Comparative study of dielectric properties of the samples was done. PE loop measurements were done to confirm the ferroelectric nature of the sample.