Grain microstructure imaging of BCZT ferroelectric materials

The continuous development of non-toxic ferroelectric materials such as Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.1Ti0.9O3 (BCZT) is critical to the eradication of toxic, Pb-based sensors and actuators. To produce viable alternatives to Pb-based ferroelectrics, further understanding of the microstructural dependence of ferroelectric performance is needed. The proposed experiment seeks to investigate this relationship by surveying the prevalence of grain boundaries suitable for ferroelectric domain continuity. This will be achieved by obtaining 3D grain maps of BCZT samples of varying composition via scanning 3DXRD. By attaining these grain maps, and analysing their grain boundary statistics to determine their theoretical extent of domain continuity, key knowledge of the impact of grain boundary formation on ferroelectric performance would be gained. Thus, informing the processing conditions required to sufficiently optimise non-toxic ferroelectric materials to replace Pb-based ferroelectrics.