(1-x)PbZr0.54Ti0.46 O3-xKNbO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 25mol%) (abbreviated as PZT-xKN) piezoelectric ceramics were successfully fabricated by a traditional sintering technique at 1225℃ for 30 min. The influence of KNbO3 content on the crystal structure and electrical properties of the PZT-xKN piezoelectric ceramics was studied. Samples with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.20 show a pure perovskite structure, indicating that all KNbO3 diffused into the crystal lattice of PZT to form a single solid solution in this compositional range. A second Pb3Nb4O13 phase is observed in the PZT-0.25KN sample, showing that the maximum solid solubility of KNbO3 in PZT matrix ceramic is less than 25mol%. Compared with pure PZT piezoelectric ceramics, samples containing KNbO3 have smaller crystal grains. PZT-0.15KN exhibits excellent piezoelectric properties with d33 = 209 pC/N.
MgO-modified Li0.06(Na0.5K0.5)0.94NbO3(L6NKN) lead-free piezoelectric ceramics were synthesized by normal sintering at a relatively low temperature of 1000°C.The crystalline phase,microstructure,and electrical properties of the ceramics were investigated with a special emphasis on the influence of MgO content.The addition of MgO effectively improves the sinterability of the L6NKN ceramics.X-ray diffraction analysis indicates that the morphotropic phase boundary(MPB) separating orthorhombic and tetragonal phases for the ceramics lies in the range of Mg doping content(x) from 0.3at% to 0.7at%.High electrical properties of the piezoelectric constant(d33=238 pC/N),planar electromechanical coupling coefficient(kp=41.5%),relative dielectric constant(εr=905),and remanent polarization(Pr=38.3 μC/cm2) are obtained from the specimen with x=0.5at%,which suggests that the Li0.06(Na0.5K0.5)0.94Nb(1-2x/5)MgxO3(x=0.5at%) ceramic is a promising lead-free piezoelectric material.
Li/Sb-doped (Na,K)NbO3 with a nominal composition of [Li0.05(Na0.535K0.48)0.95](Nb0.94Sb0.06)O3 ceramic was synthesized by normal sintering. The phase structure, microstructure, and electrical properties were investigated with a special emphasis on the influence of the sintering temperature. A polymorphic phase transition (PPT) from orthorhombic to tetragonal symmetry was observed when the sintering temperature was raised from 1040 to 1050 ℃, whereby the piezoelectric coefficient d33 and the electromechanical coupling coefficient kp reached the peak values of 245 pC·N-1 and 41.2%, respectively. The PPT induced by varying the sintering temperature is due to the different volatilization extents of alkali metals and appears to a lower sintering temperature with increasing Li content. The trace modifying of alkali metal content is more effective than doping B site element to enhance the d33 value.
