Effects of La3+ addition on the phase transition, microstructure, and electrical properties of Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.1Ti0.9O3 ceramics

Rare earth-doped Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.1Ti0.9O3 (BCZT) ceramics demonstrated moderately improved properties rather than undoped counterpart. In this investigation, we report the synthesis and characterization of La3+-doped BCZT (x = 0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, and 0.08) single-phase crystals prepared by high-temperature (~ 1300 °C) solid-state reaction technique. Rare earth ions addition to BCZT affects its microstructure, phase transition, and electrical properties. All compounds were crystallized in tetragonal structure at room temperature. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) recorded the microstructural analysis of the compounds. Temperature-dependent dielectric and impedance properties of the sintered pellet were estimated at chosen frequencies as a function of temperature. Here, efforts were made to improve the electrical properties of the material with the addition of La3+ in the BCZT system. The obtained data revealed that Curie temperature (TC) diminishes with the introduction of La3+ in BCZT ceramics. Besides, the diffusivity analysis and conductivity studies were used for better comprehension of the electrical processes in the materials. The obtained lead-free ceramics with enhanced electrical properties could be utilized in the fabrication of electronic devices.