Jolanta Dzik

Characterization of Lead Lanthanum Zirconate Titanate Ceramics Co-Doped with Lanthanide Ions

The aim of this work was to obtain Pb0.92(La0.08)(Zr0.65Ti0.35)0.98O3 materials co-doped with two different lanthanide ions (Ln3+) and characterization how they influence on the physical properties of prepared 8/65/35 PLZT: Ln3+ ceramics. As a co-dopant, praseodymium (Pr3+) and neodymium (Nd3+) ions were used at the concentration of 0.0 and 0.5 wt.% respectively. The ceramic powders of 8/65/35 PLZT, PLZT:Pr3+ as well PLZT:Nd3+ were synthesized by conventional ceramic route, from high purity raw oxide materials (>99,9%). All compositions of the ceramic samples were sintered via single time process at Ts=1200°C/3h, by the hot uniaxial pressing method. Performed measurements have shown dependence of used dopant on structure, microstructure, and dielectric as well optical properties of the fabricated 8/65/35 PLZT: Ln3+ materials.

Fabrication of BiFeO3//Bi4Ti3O12 Composites

In this study a method of fabrication of ceramic-ceramic composites with 0-3 connectivity was developed and BiFeO3//Bi4Ti3O12 (BF//BiT) ceramic composites were fabricated for different concentrations of the ceramic phases. BiFeO3 and Bi4Ti3O12 ceramic powders were first synthesized by the conventional mixed oxide method (MOM). Then BF powder was dispersed in a BiT ceramic powder, and next such composite was pressed and sintered. A free sintering method was utilized. Properties of the BF//BiT composites were studied in terms of their density, crystalline structure (X-ray diffraction) and surface morphology (SEM). It was found, that bismuth ferrite powder crystallized in rhombohedral symmetry and bismuth titanate crystallized in monoclinic phase for cV = 2% of BiFeO3 and orthorhombic phase for cV = 4% and cV = 6% of BiFeO3 component of the composite. Apparent density of the composites varied within the range ρ = (6.2–6.6) × 10−3 kg/m3. Clear change in surface morphology was found for the composites under study.