The piezoelectric properties of transparent 0.75Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.25PbTiO3:Pr3+ ceramics

Abstract The enhancement of both transparency and piezoelectric properties in transparent ferroelectric ceramics is a challenge. In this work, we prepared transparent 0.75Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.25PbTiO3:xPr3+ ceramics by oxygen atmosphere sintering together with hot pressing sintering. When x = 1.5 mol%, a transparency of 68% @ 900 nm (close to the theoretical value ~71%) was achieved, and the piezoelectric properties increased to twice as much as those in undoped ceramics (x = 0). The small average domain size (below 200 nm) that far below the visible light wavelength was believed to benefit light transmittance. Meanwhile, the minute amount of tetragonal component induced by Pr3+ irons, was supposed to be responsible for the improved piezoelectric properties. These merits make Pr3+-doped 0.75PMN-0.25PT transparent ceramics promising functional materials for transparent piezoelectric devices.