Dielectric and piezoelectric properties of 0.8Na_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃-0.2BaTiO₃ modified with sodium niobate

In this paper, we present the dielectric and piezoelectric properties of tetragonal 0.8Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-0.2BaTiO3 modified with NaNbO3 ((1-x)[0.8Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-0.2BaTiO3]-xNaNbO3). Our experimental study has revealed that the ferroelectric phase in these compositions is suppressed with the increase of sodium niobate concentration. A broad anomaly, resembling relaxor ferroelectrics, appears in the 325–450 K temperature interval. The investigation of the electric field dependence of polarization has indicated that the double hysteresis loop behaviour is characteristic of the modified compositions, which is associated with the 1st order phase transition under the applied electric field. The experiments below room temperature have revealed that the range of stability of the ferroelectric phase is shifted to lower temperatures upon the increase of sodium niobate concentration. The electromechanical displacement in the modified compositions shows a similar maximum displacement in the whole concentration range. The electromechanical response in 0.8Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-0.2BaTiO3 solid solutions is due to the piezoelectric effect, while, in the mixed compositions, it is related to the jump-like change of the lattice constants in the vicinity of electric fieldinduced 1st order phase transition.