Piezoelectric and dielectric properties of transparent Pb(Ni1/3Nb2/3)1-x-yZrxTiyO3 ceramics prepared by hot isostatic pressing

The dielectric, pyroelectric, piezoelectric and optical properties of transparent Pb(Ni1-3Nb2/3)(1-x-y)ZrxTiyO3 (PNNZT) ceramics have been investigated. Hot isostatic pressing was used to achieve uniformly transparent ceramics with optical transmittance of more than 5% at 633 nm. The room temperature dielectric constant of 4200 and a loss of similar to0.025 were measured on these samples. Large electromechanical coupling factors, k(p) = 69%, k(31) = 43%, k(t) = 56%, and k(33) similar to 80%, and large pyroelectric coefficients, 0.2075 li, muC/cm(2) K at room temperature and 2.3819 muC/cm(2) K at 129 degreesC were observed for poled ceramics. Transparent PNNZT ceramics could be promising candidates for many applications such as electrooptics, pyrooptics, and electromechanical transducers/sensors. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.