Structural and dielectric properties of PLZT ceramics modified with lanthanide ions

Lanthanide-modified lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) ceramics were prepared through a hydroxide coprecipitation method, and the effects of the lanthanide ions on the structural and dielectric properties of the PLZT ceramics were investigated. The substitution site of the lanthanide ions was found to change from the A site to the B site with decreased lanthanide ionic radius by comparing theoretically calculated and experimentally measured unit-cell volumes and densities. The variation of structural and dielectric properties in the lanthanide-modified PLZT series was highly correlated to the change of substitution site, leading to the compositional change of the unit cell. Raman spectra showed that the B-site local structures were affected by the substitution type.