Structural refinement, optical and ferroelectric properties of microcrystalline Ba(Zr0.05Ti0.95)O-3 perovskite

Abstract

For this study, a microcrystalline Ba(Zr0.05Ti0.95)O-3 (BZT) powder was prepared by a high energy ball milling method followed by calcination at 1100 degrees C for 4 h. The calcined powder was structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement data, which showed that this material has a perovskite-type tetragonal structure with a space group of (P4mmm). The micro-Raman spectrum revealed local lattice distortions due to distorted octahedral [TiO6] clusters. The temperature and frequency-dependent dielectric study of the BZT ceramic showed normal phase transition behavior. The ferroelectric property was studied by a P-E hysteresis loop. Optical band gap was investigated by ultraviolete-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy at room temperature. The UV-vis spectrum indicated that the BZT powder has an optical band gap of 3.15 eV. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.