Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 February 2011
Modified BaTiO3 ceramics are candidate materials for infrared sensors in nightvision equipment. Measurements of dielectric constants, dielectric losses, pyroelectric coefficient, and heat capacities as functions of temperature and frequency are performed. Crystallographic and grain size data are also presented. It is shown that additions of these impurities to BaTiO3 alters the temperature of phase transformations and, with it, dielectric and pyroelectric properties. The results of these measurements were compared with those of PZT and PbTiO3 ceramics, which are currently the favoredmaterials for uncooled detector arrays, as well as PbTiO3 and PZT thin films. It is concluded that these oxide ceramics offer the combination of preparative ease of property modification and show good performance at low impurity concentrations.