Sm2O3 and MnO2 codoped PMN-PZT ceramics with both high mechanical quality factor and piezoelectric properties

For lead-based ceramics used in high-power devices, it is essential that they possess both a high mechanical quality factor (Qm) and a large piezoelectric coefficient (d33). Unfortunately, Qm is inversely proportional to d33 for piezoelectric ceramics, which the limits their actual application. If suitable acceptor and donor dopants can be added in piezoelectric ceramics, it is rational to achieve high Qm and large d33 simultaneously. Herein, we tried to achieve both a high mechanical quality factor and large piezoelectric activity in 0.47 pb(Mg1/2Nb2/3)O3-0.18PbZrO3-0.35PbTiO3 (PMN-PZT) ceramics via Sm2O3 and MnO2 co-doing. A range of xMn-2Sm-PMN-PZT ceramics were fabricated by the traditional sintering method. An optimal performance was attained in 4Mn-2Sm-PMN-PZT ceramics with Qm = 1720, d33 = 450 pC/N, ε = 2720 and kp = 0.54. The high Qm is related to the presence of defect dipoles as a result of MnO2 doping and the large piezoelectric activity is due to the doping of Sm2O3.