Electric field induced phase transition in lead lanthanum stannate zirconate titanate (PLSnZT) antiferroelectrics: tailoring properties through compositional modification

In this study, we investigated the effects of dopants on the antiferroelectric-to-ferroelectric (AFE-FE) phase transition behavior of lead lanthanum stannate zirconate titanate (PLSnZT) family of ceramics. In particular, the possibility to lower both the switching field and hysteresis by compositional modification was sought. Based on tolerance factor considerations, barium (Ba) and strontium (Sr) were chosen as modifiers to stabilize ferroelectric and antiferroelectric phases, respectively. With the right starting composition and proper amount of dopant, we demonstrated that the properties of PLSnZT can be tailored to fit the needs of specific applications. It was also observed that the temperature dependence of dielectric constants, such as the ferroelectric-to-antiferroelectric transition temperature (T FE-AFE) and the temperature of the maximum dielectric constant (T MAX), is strongly related to the phase switching behavior. The influence of dopants on the operating temperature range was also examined.