Understanding the piezoelectric properties in potassium-sodium niobate-based lead-free piezoceramics: Interrelationship between intrinsic and extrinsic factors

Fernando Rubio-Marcos
Fernandez, José F.
Ochoa, Diego A.
García, José E.
Rojas-Hernandez, Rocio E.
Castro, Miriam Susana
Ramajo, Leandro Alfredo

Open link

Publication date

April 2017

DOI

10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2017.04.045

Publisher

Elsevier BV

ISSN

0955-2219

Journal

Journal of the European Ceramic Society

Citation count (estimate)

Abstract

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) based ceramics are currently enjoying a wide use in piezoelectric devices despite lead toxicity. Due to growing environmental concerns, the attention on piezoelectric ceramics has been moving to lead-free materials, in particular to (K,Na)NbO3-based ceramics. Here we report a systematic evaluation of the effects of the compositional modifications on [(K0.44Na0.52Li0.04)[(Nb0.86Ta0.10Sb0.04)1-xZr5x/4]O3 lead–free piezoceramics. We show that an interrelationship between the intrinsic and extrinsic factors is the linchpin for the development of good piezoelectric properties. Hence, the stabilization of the tetragonal symmetry on the orthorhombic-tetragonal polymorphic phase boundary facilities the poling process o...