lPiezoelectric powders and ceramics with the composition of Pb0.95Sr0.05(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O-3-Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O-3-Pb(Mn1/3Sb2/3)O-3 (PZT-PZN-PMS) were prepared by molten salt synthesis (MSS) and conventional mixed-oxide (CMO) methods, respectively. The influence of synthesis process on the properties of powders and ceramics were investigated in detail. The results show that the MSS method significantly improved the sinterability of PZT-PZN-PMS ceramics, resulting in an improvement of dielectric and piezoelectric properties compared to the CMO method. The optimum values of MSS samples are as follows: epsilon r = 1773, tan delta = 0.0040, T-c = 280 C; d(33) = 455 pC/N; k(p) = 0.70; Q(m) = 888; E-c = 10.3 kV/cm; and P-r = 28.2 mu C/cm(2) at calcination of 800 degrees C and sintering of 1120 degrees C temperature. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.