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Structural and electromechanical characterization of lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate (PMN-0.3PT) piezoceramic for energy harvesting applications

Efficient mechanical energy harvesting using the principle of piezoelectric effect demands specific material-property requirements. This includes a combination of large piezoelectric charge coefficient (dij), large elastic strain (εy), small elastic compliance (Sij), and small dielectric permittivity (\k{appa}ij). The present work undertakes structural, electrical, mechanical, and electromechanical characterization of pyrochlore-free lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate (1-x)[Pb(Mg(1/3)Nb(2/3)O3)]-xPbTiO3 at x = 0.3 or PMN-0.3PT, to estimate the above critical parameters for mechanical energy harvesting. Pyrochlore-free PMN-0.3PT ceramic with co-existing monoclinic (Pm and Cm) phases was synthesized using solid-state reaction method. Piezoelectric charge coefficient (d33), dielectric permittivity (\k{appa}33^T), elastic compliance (s33^E), and electromechanical coupling factor (k33), were estimated to be, 200 pC/N (approx), 1.06 (approx) x 10^-8 F/m, 13.16 (approx) x 10^-12 m2/N, and 0.54 (approx), respectively, using room temperature impedance measurement on a poled sample with specified dimensions (EN 50324-1:2002 and CEI/IEC 60483:1976). Polarization leakage due to transport of various charged defects was identified to be responsible for the reduced electromechanical properties compared to those reported for single crystals. Elastic strain (εy) vis-à-vis flexibility (fFOM) of the PMN-0.3PT was estimated to be 4.5 x 10-4. Energy harvesting under dynamic mechanical loading shows a maximum short-circuit current density, 95 nA/cm2, and an open-circuit electric field, 98 V/cm. With its impressive performance, PMN-0.3PT ceramic constitutes an important material for piezoelectric energy harvesting.