Structural phase transition, depolarization and enhanced pyroelectric properties of (Pb1−1.5xLax)(Zr0.66Sn0.23Ti0.11)O3 solid solution

Abstract

(Pb_1−1.5xLa_x)(Zr_0.66Sn_0.23Ti_0.11)O₃ (PLZST) (x = 0–0.024) ceramics were designed based on chemical composition modification and fabricated using the conventional solid-state method. Structural phase transition, thermal depolarization and pyroelectric properties of the PLZST system were investigated systematically. Phase structures of various chemical compositions in the PLZST system were discussed based on the electronegativity difference versus tolerance factor relationship phase diagram. Enhanced pyroelectric response with a value of 14.01 μC cm⁻² K⁻¹ was realized for the ceramics with x = 0.018, which is far larger than the previously reported values. The results indicated that there was a quadratic function relationship between the pyroelectric peak temperature (T_peak) and composition (x): T_peak = 182 + 404x − 3.0 × 10⁵x². The composition dependence of the wide range pyroelectric response over 19–185 °C was obtained by changing x from 0 to 0.024. Our results also reveal that the enhanced and wide temperature range pyroelectric properties of the composition-optimized PLZST system are of great significance to pyroelectric technology.