Pyroelectric characteristics of modified barium titanate ceramics

BaZrO3 and BaHfO3 modified polycrystalline BaTiO3 are candidate materials for transverse mode and pyroelectric charge coupled device (CCD) arrays. Addition of 3-4 percent barium zirconate and barium hafnate to barium titanate alters the temperature of phase transformations and with it, dielectric and pyroelectric properties. These additions create a temperature range close to room temperature where the pyroelectric coefficient is extremely high relative to the dielectric permittivity. These materials show a very high figure of merit for dielectric bolometer applications that is competitive with existing materials, while being relatively easy to prepare.