Compositional dependence of dielectric and ferroelectric properties in BiFeO3–BaTiO3 solid solutions

Polycrystalline (1−x)BiFeO3–xBaTiO3 (0.11≤x≤0.5) ceramics have been prepared by the solid-state reaction method to investigate their phase structure, dielectric, ferroelectric, and field-induced strain behaviors. The phase was found to change from rhombohedral in BiFeO3-rich compositions to pseudocubic at a BaTiO3 content of x=0.33. The room-temperature dielectric permittivity increased with increasing BaTiO3 content regardless of phase structure, except for a small dielectric permittivity peak additionally observed at x=0.33. The (1−x)BiFeO3–xBaTiO3 solid solutions displayed a maximum in permittivity at temperatures (Tm) above 300 °C in the compositional range of 0.2≤x≤0.5. The frequency dependence of high-temperature dielectric properties suggests that BiFeO3–BaTiO3 is a relaxor ferroelectric. Normal ferroelectric loops and large electric field-induced strains were observed for the BiFeO3–BaTiO3 ceramics. The BiFeO3–BaTiO3 shows a promising candidate for high temperature ferroelectric applications