Piezoelectricity and Thermophysical Properties of BaCaTiZrO Ceramics Modified with Amphoteric Nd and Y Dopants.

Lead-free barium calcium titanate zirconate (BCTZ) ceramics doped with a single rare-earth element generally exhibit excellent piezoelectric properties. However, their electrical properties deteriorate at an excessive dopant content, limiting their application. In this study, amphoteric neodymium (Nd) and yttrium (Y)-codoped BCTZ-NY ceramics were synthesized via a solid-state reaction at 1240 °C.