Dielectric properties, piezoelectric properties and mechanical properties of NiO-doped Pb($(Ni_{1/3}Nb_{2/3})O_3-PbTiO_3-PbZrO_3$ ceramics were investigated. Powders, prepared by columbite precursor method, were cold pressed and sintered at temperatur...
Dielectric properties, piezoelectric properties and mechanical properties of NiO-doped Pb($(Ni_{1/3}Nb_{2/3})O_3-PbTiO_3-PbZrO_3$ ceramics were investigated. Powders, prepared by columbite precursor method, were cold pressed and sintered at temperature ranging from $1100^{\circ}C$ to $1250^{\circ}C$. Dielectric constant and piezoelectric constant increased with amount of NiO up to 1 mol% and then decreased with further addition of NiO. It seems that NiO acts as a sintering aid at the sintering temperatures of $1150^{\circ}C$. When the samples were sintered at temperature above $1200^{\circ}C$, however, both dielectric constant and electromechanical coupling factor decreased and mechanical quality coefficient increased with addition of NiO. Hardness and fracture toughness of PNN-PT-PZ increased with addition of NiO up to 1 mol%, and then decreased slightly with further addition of NiO. These results showed that dielectric properties, piezoelectric properties and mechanical properties of PNN-PT-PZ system seemed to be closely related with microstructural factors such as grain size, bulk density and the amount of second phase.