Incorporation of lanthanide ions into lead titanate

A series of lanthanide, Ln, ion doped lead titanate ceramics, at 2 and 8 at.%, have been prepared with starting compositions Pb1-3x/2LnxTiO3, Ln = La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, using a standard ceramic method. Structural, and differential scanning calorimetry, measurements are reported. Doping with La3+ results in a reduction in tetragonality and cell volume; a partial recovery was then observed for the smaller Ln3+ ions and suggests the onset of partial substitution of the rare earth on the B-site. The ferroelectric-paraelectric transition temperature results also consistent with an increased probability the B-site occupation with decreasing ion size.