Abstract

The influence of alkali-Li+ modification on rare-earth Nd3+-doped BSNN tungsten bronze system and its effect on phase formation, dielectric and pyroelectric properties is reported. The structure of Ba1.45Sr2.4Nd0.1LixNa2-xNb10O30 ceramics is comprehensively studied in the range of x = 0.0 = x = 1.0. X-ray diffraction studies indicated single orthorhombic (mm2) phase supported by tolerance factor and average electronegativity difference of BSNLNN compositions. The average particle size was maximum (406 Å) at Li0.6. The dielectric properties are maximum (eRT = 649 and e{lunate}Tc = 1254) at 1 kHz for Li0.6. The values of Tc for Li-modified and Nd-doped BSNN varied from 190 °C to 202 °C. The ?max value in the order of 1010 O cm which is three orders of magnitude larger when compared with the ?RT. The value of ?max is 1.05 × 1010 O cm observed at x = 0.2 of BSNLNN ceramics. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.