LAUSR

Abstract Polycrystalline ferroelectric ceramics with compositional formula Pb(1-1.5x)SmxZr0.588Ti0.392Fe0.01Nb0.01O3 ‘PSZTFN’, with x = 0.02 in steps of 0.005 were prepared by the conventional solid state route. The prepared samples were investigated for their structural, dielectric and ferroelectric properties. A direct relation was noticed between grain size and maximum dielectric constant ‘emax’. Remnant polarization ‘Pr’ to saturation polarization ‘Ps’ ratio ‘Pr/Ps’ as recorded from the P-E hysteresis loops was found to be improved. The maximum value of the Pr/Ps ratio and Pr was 0.877 and 47.41 μC/cm2, respectively, for 2% of Sm3+ content. The maximum value of piezoelectric coefficient ‘d33’ is 356 for 2% of Sm3+ content. The enhancement in the Pr and remnant to polarization ratio suggests that the prepared materials are suitable for memory applications.