Investigation of nano particle additives on lithium doped KNN lead free piezoelectric ceramics

Lead free potassium sodium niobate modified piezoelectric ceramics were synthesized through conventional mixed oxide method. Crystal structure and microstructure were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effects of nano ZnO, CuO and SnO₂ additives as the nano scale sintering aids, on microstructure and electrical properties of (K₀₅₀Na_0.50)_0.94Li_0.06NbO₃ (KNNL-6) ceramics were investigated. The optimum dielectric and piezoelectric properties of ?_r = 560, d₃₃ = 215 pC/N and tan δ = 0.008 were obtained for pure KNNL-6 that sintered at 1000 °C for 2 h. The results show that with addition of nano particle sintering aids, the piezoelectric coefficient d₃₃ of (K₀₅₀Na_0.50)_0.94Li_0.06NbO₃ ceramics was decreased. The decrease in piezoelectric charge coefficient could be due to the hardening effect, which lowers the piezoelectric charge.