Investigation of La-doped Pb0.6-xLaxBa0.4Zr0.1Nb1.92O6 ceramics: structural, microstructural, Raman phonon, and energy density properties
摘要
A comprehensive study investigated the structural, vibrational, temperature-dependent dielectric, and ferroelectric properties of La-doped Pb0.60-xLaxBa0.40Zr0.10Nb1.92O6 (i.e., PLBZN60-La, with x = 0.02, 0.04, and 0.06). The ceramics were prepared using the solid-state reaction method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), combined with Rietveld refinement, confirmed an orthorhombic crystal structure with space group Bb2₁m. Room temperature Raman spectroscopy identified characteristic vibrational modes of the tungsten bronze (TTB) structure, with peak shifts indicating La3+-induced structural distortions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed grain coalescence and growth as La content increased, supported by energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), confirming uniform elemental distribution. Ferroelectric measurements revealed a transition from strong antiferroelectric (AFE) to soft AFE/relaxor behavior with La doping, highlighting tunable polarization and current response. Temperature-dependent P–E hysteresis loops demonstrated improved energy storage performance, with the x = 0.06 sample reaching an efficiency of up to 98.18% at 31 °C. The development of relaxor behavior in La-doped PLBZN60 ceramics was further supported by temperature and frequency-dependent dielectric studies. The AC-conductive study confirms that all the ceramics follow the universal Jonscher’s power law.