Role of Secondary Phase in High Power Piezoelectric PMN‐PZT Ceramics

This study reports the dielectric and piezoelectric properties of 0.4 Pb ( Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 ) O 3 ‐0.25 PbZrO 3 ‐0.35 PbTiO 3 ( PMN‐PZT ), 2 mol% MnO 2 ‐doped 0.4 Pb ( Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 ) O 3 ‐0.25 PbZrO 3 ‐0.35 PbTiO 3 ( MnO 2 +PMN‐PZT ), and 0.06 Pb ( Mn 1/3 Nb 2/3 ) O 3 ‐0.34 Pb ( Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 ) O 3 ‐0.25 PbZrO 3 ‐0.35 PbTiO 3 ( PMnN+PMN‐PZT ) ceramics. The results show that MnO 2 modification results in the formation of MgO secondary phase which promotes grain growth and reduces the electromechanical properties. We conclusively demonstrate that Mn 2+ acts as pervoskite stabilizer in Pb ‐based (1:2) relaxors and leads to the formation of divalent oxide secondary phase. Modification with PMnN avoids the formation of MgO and provides combinatory doping effect with smaller grain sizes.