Microstructural, dielectric, piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties of x PZN–PZT ternary ceramics

x Pb(Zn 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 –(1− x )Pb(Zr 0.52 Ti 0.48 )O 3 ( x PZN – PZT) ternary piezoelectric ceramics with different PZN content were prepared by the traditional solid-state reaction method. The effect of relaxor ferroelectric PZN content on the phase structure, dielectric, piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties of x PZN–PZT ceramics has been systematically investigated. The XRD and SEM analysis results showed a slight increase in grain size with the increase in PZN content. The 0.2PZN–PZT ceramic samples have good grain size and exhibit the optimum properties: T c = 318 °C, d 33 = 347 pC/N, k p = 0.617, ε r = 1232, tan δ = 3.0%, P r = 37.9 µC/cm 2 , E c = 6.6 kV/mm, respectively. Furthermore, all these results suggest that 0.2PZN–PZT can maintain a balance between the Curie temperature and piezoelectric properties. That is, it still has optimum electrical properties at high Curie temperatures. Enhanced piezoelectric ceramics properties could be attributed to its dielectric relaxor behavior.