Effect of grain size on phase transition, dielectric and pyroelectric properties of BST ceramics

Grain size effect on phase transition, dielectric and pyroelectric properties of BST ceramics under DC bias field was reported for the first time. With the grain size increased by one order of magnitude, phase transition diffuseness parameters delta and gamma decreased from 282 to 63 and 1.64-1.33, respectively. This resulted in the dielectric constant maximum increased by 65%, the pyroelectric coefficient maximum and corresponding figure of merit were quadrupled and tripled, respectively. The physical essence of the great size effect can be attributed to a combination of surface effect, mechanical stress effect and extrinsic effect of grain boundary. A well understanding of the grain size effect and its mechanism will be useful for the BaTiO3-based ceramics and other ferroelectrics. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.