Structure and Dielectric Properties of Cerium Doped Lead Titanate Ceramics

Abstract

Sintered ceramic powders of cerium-doped lead titanate (Pb_x/2+1Ce_xTi_1-xO₃) ceramics with different Ce dopant concentration in the range (x=0-0.1) have been prepared using a sol-gel chemical route. The sol-gel technique is known to offer better purity and homogeneity, and can yield stoichiometric powders with improved properties at relatively lower processing temperature in comparison to conventional solid-state reaction. X-ray diffraction (XRD) scanning electronic microscope (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy studies have been carried out to identify the crystallographic structure and phase formation.

The refinement of the structural parameters was carried out by the Rietveld method. PCT exhibit tetragonal symmetry with the perovskite structure.

The dielectric properties as a function of frequency, and phase transition studies on sintered ceramics Pb_x/2+1Ce_xTi_1-xO₃ (x=0.03) has been investigated in detail over a wide temperature range 30-500°C and the results are discussed.

Keywords:  A. ceramics; B. x-ray diffraction; C. Raman spectroscopy; D. dielectric; C. properties; E. Ce-modified.