Changes in dielectric and ferroelectric properties of Fe3+/Nb5+ hybrid-doped barium titanate ceramics under compressive stress

The influences of compressive stress on the dielectric and ferroelectric properties of Fe3+/Nb5+ hybrid-doped barium titanate (BaTiO3) ceramics were investigated. Superimposed compressive stress had a pronounced effect on the electrical properties of the ceramics. The response of low-field dielectric properties to stress changed from soft to hard piezoelectric behavior with increasing Nb5+ content. While ferroelectric properties decreased with stress, hardening behavior was observed with increasing Nb5+ content in hybrid-doped BaTiO3 ceramics. A mechanism based on induced change in the acceptor valence by the donor dopant in hybrid-doped BaTiO3 ceramics was proposed to explain the results obtained.