Piezoelectric ceramic composition, production method thereof, piezoelectric element and fabrication method thereof

摘要

A piezoelectric ceramic composition has as a chief ingredient a composite oxide that has Pb, Ti and Zr as constituent elements. It contains as a first accessory ingredient at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Co, Cr, Fe and Ni in an amount of 0.2 mass % or less excluding 0 mass % in terms of an oxide. As the first accessory ingredient, at least one species selected from the ingredients represented by CuO_x, wherein x>=0, can be adopted. In this case, the content of the first accessory ingredient is 3.0 mass % or less excluding 0 mass %. The piezoelectric ceramic composition is fired under reducing and firing conditions. The reducing and firing conditions include a firing temperature in the range of 800° C. to 1200° C. and an oxygen partial pressure in the range of 1x10^-10 to 1x10^-6 atm., for example.