The effect of Nd substitution on the electrical properties of Bi3NbTiO9 Aurivillius phase ceramics

The effect of Nd substitution on the microstructures and electrical properties of Aurivillius phase ferroelectric Bi3NbTiO9-based ceramics has been studied. All of the Bi3−xNdxNbTiO9 (0≤x≤1) ceramics are ferroelectrics. The Curie point TC decreased with increasing Nd doping content x. The Bi3−xNdxNbTiO9 ceramics exhibited a sharp ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition at small x values (x≤0.6), whereas a diffuse phase transition was observed at higher x values (x≥0.8). Both the piezoelectric constant d33 and the dc electrical resistivity of Bi3NbTiO9 ceramics were greatly enhanced by Nd substitution on the A sites. The improved properties can be attributed to the fact that Nd substitution depressed the generation of oxygen vacancies. A combination of high d33 values, high resistivity, and high TC points (>700 °C) suggests that the Bi3−xNdxNbTiO9 ceramics with x≤0.6 could be good candidates for high-temperature piezoelectric applications.