Piezoelectricity in Ceramics of Ferroelectric Bismuth Compound with Layer Structure

Piezoelectric properties have been studied on ferroelectric ceramics comprising bismuth compounds with layer structure, PbBi2Nb2O9, PbBi4Ti4O15, SrBi4Ti4O15 and Na0.5Bi4.5Ti4O15. These ceramics have the high mechanical quality factor Q(2000∼7200), low aging rate of frequency constant Nt(30∼60 ppm/time decade), low temperature coefficients both of Nt(-50 ppm/°C) and of coupling factor kt(70 ppm/°C), low Poisson's ratio σ(0.23∼0.27), and large anisotropy in coupling factor. A small value of kt in these ceramics probably relates to two-dimensional restriction on permissible rotation of the spontaneous polarization. The poling characteristics in the ceramics can be improved by some additives. Grain boundaries in these ceramics are of nearly rectangular shape, and an etch pattern of fine stripes appears always in parallel to the length of the boundary.