title: Phase transition characteristics and associated piezoelectricity of potassium-sodium niobate lead-free ceramics.
abstract: To achieve high piezoelectric activity and a wide sintering temperature range, the ceramic system concerning (1 - x)(K(0.48)Na(0.52))(Nb(0.96)Sb(0.04))O(3)-x[Bi(0.5)(Na(0.7)Ag(0.3))(0.5)](0.90) Zn(0.10)ZrO(3) was designed, and the rhombohedral-tetragonal (R-T) phase boundary can drive a high d(33). Phase transition characteristics as well as their effects on the electrical properties were investigated systematically. The R-T coexistence phase boundary (0.04 ≤ x ≤ 0.05) can be driven via modification with BNAZZ, and has been confirmed by XRD and temperature-dependent dielectric constants as well as Raman analysis, and the ceramics possess enhanced piezoelectric properties (d(33) ∼ 425 pC N(-1) and k(p) ∼ 0.43) and a high unipolar strain (∼0.3%). In addition, a wide sintering temperature range of 1050-1080 °C can warrant a large d(33) of 400-430 pC N(-1), which can benefit practical applications. As a result, the addition of BNAZZ is an effective method to improve the electrical properties (piezoelectricity and strain) and sintering behavior of potassium-sodium niobate ceramics.
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Lab Silicon Mat, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, PR China. mse237@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yuanyu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Qilong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang