Morphotropic phase boundary and electric properties in (1 − x)Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3–xBaSnO3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

Lead-free piezoceramics of (1 ? x)Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃–xBaSnO₃ (BNT–BS, x = 0, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.06, 0.09 and 0.12) have been synthesized and investigated. A rhombohedral–tetragonal morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) exists near x = 0.03. The MPB composition shows improved electrical properties: the saturated polarization, remnant polarization, coercive field, piezoelectric coefficient, planar electromechanical coupling factor, and unipolar strain are 35.8, 28.5 μC/cm², and 4.5 kV/mm, 93 pC/N, 0.19, and 0.18 %, respectively. It is also found the introduction of BS can significantly enhance dielectric property. The structural and electrical properties are discussed by comparing with other BNT-based piezoceramics.     

Energy storage properties of (1 − x)(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3–xKNbO3 lead-free ceramics

In this study, a simple compound (1 ? x)(Bi_0.5Na_0.5)TiO₃–xKNbO₃ (x = 0 – 0.12) lead-free bulk ceramic was developed for high electric power pulse energy storage applications. The dielectric and ferroelectric properties of the ceramics were measured. The results illustrate that the energy storage density of the ceramics is enhanced by the addition of KNbO₃. The influence of applied electric field, temperature, and fatigue on the energy storage properties of the ceramics was evaluated for the composition-optimized (Bi_0.5Na_0.5)TiO₃–0.1KNbO₃ ceramic. The results demonstrate that (Bi_0.5Na_0.5)TiO₃–0.1KNbO₃ ceramic is a promising lead-free material for high power pulse capacitor applications. The excellent energy storage properties of the (Bi_0.5Na_0.5)TiO₃–0.1KNbO₃ ceramics are ascribed to the reversible relaxor–ferroelectric phase transition induced by the electric field.     

Structure and piezoelectric properties of K0.5Na0.5NbO3–Bi0.5Li0.5TiO3 lead-free ceramics

Lead-free (1−x) K_0.5Na_0.5NbO₃–xBi_0.5Li_0.5TiO₃ + 1 mol% MnO₂ piezoelectric ceramics have been prepared by a conventional ceramic technique and their structure and piezoelectric properties have been studied. Our results reveal that Bi_0.5Li_0.5TiO₃ diffuse into K_0.5Na_0.5NbO₃ lattices to form a solid solution with a perovskite structure. The addition of Bi_0.5Li_0.5TiO₃ to the K_0.5Na_0.5NbO₃ solid solution decreases the paraelectric cubic-ferroelectric tetragonal phase transition temperature (T _C) slightly, but shifts the ferroelectric tetragonal-ferroelectric orthorhombic phase transition temperature (T _O−T) significantly to low temperatures. As a result, coexistence of the orthorhombic and tetragonal phases is formed at 0.01 < x < 0.03 near room temperature, leading to a significant improvement in the piezoelectric properties of the ceramics. The ceramic with x = 0.025 exhibits a relatively high T _C (392 °C) and optimum piezoelectric properties: d ₃₃ = 191 pC/N, k _p = 51.5% and k _t = 45.5%. The ceramic also exhibit a good thermal stability of piezoelectric properties.     

Piezoelectric and dielectric properties of Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3–Bi0.5Li0.5TiO3 lead-free ceramics

(1 − x)Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃–xBi_0.5Li_0.5TiO₃ lead-free ceramics have been prepared by a conventional solid-state reaction method, and their piezoelectric and dielectric properties have been studied. X-ray diffraction studies reveal that Li⁺ diffuses into the Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃ lattices to form a solid solution with a pure perovskite structure. The addition of Bi_0.5Li_0.5TiO₃ effectively lowers the sintering temperature of the ceramics and greatly assists in the densification of the ceramics. The ceramic with x = 0.075 possesses the optimum piezoelectric properties: piezoelectric coefficient d ₃₃ = 121 pC/N and planar electromechanical coupling factor k _P = 18.3%. After the partial substitution of Li⁺ for Na⁺ in the A-sites of Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃, the ceramics exhibit more relaxor characteristic, which is probably resulted from the cation disordering in the 12-fold coordination sites. The depolarization temperature T _d shifts to low temperature with the substitution level x of Li⁺ for Na⁺ increasing.     

Structure,ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of Bi0.5(Na0.8K0.2)0.5TiO3 modified BiFeO3–BaTiO3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

A new lead-free solid solution of (0.75 ? x)BiFeO₃–0.25BaTiO₃–xBi_0.5(Na_0.8K_0.2)_0.5TiO₃ + 1 mol% MnO₂ has been prepared by a conventional ceramic technique and the effects of Bi_0.5(Na_0.8K_0.2)_0.5TiO₃ and sintering temperature on the structure, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of the material have been studied. The ceramics sintered at 960 °C for 2 h possess a pure perovskite structure and no second phases can be detected. After the addition of Bi_0.5(Na_0.8K_0.2)_0.5TiO₃, a morphotropic phase boundary of rhombohedral and orthorhombic phases is formed at x = 0.01. The addition of a small amount of Bi_0.5(Na_0.8K_0.2)_0.5TiO₃ can promote the grain growth, while excess Bi_0.5(Na_0.8K_0.2)_0.5TiO₃ causes an inhibition of grain growth. Sintering temperature has an important influence on the structure and electrical properties of the ceramics. The sintering temperature of 960 °C is a critical temperature to obtain the ceramics with good piezoelectric properties. For the ceramic with x = 0.01 sintered at/above 960 °C located at the morphotropic phase boundary, large grains, good densification, high resistivity and enhanced electrical properties are obtained.     

Structure and electrical properties of Er2O3 doped 0.82Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3–0.18Bi0.5K0.5TiO3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

Er₂O₃ (0–0.8 wt.%)-doped 0.82Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃–0.18Bi_0.5K_0.5TiO₃ (BNKT18) lead-free piezoelectric ceramics were synthesized by a conventional solid-state reaction method. The effects of Er₂O₃ on the microstructure and electrical properties were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) data shows that Er₂O₃ in an amount of 0.2–0.8 wt.% can diffuse into the lattice of the BNKT18 ceramics and form the pure perovskite phase. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images indicate that the grain sizes of BNKT18 ceramics decrease with the increase of Er₂O₃ content; in addition, the modified ceramics have the clear grain boundary and a uniformly distributed grain size. At room temperature, the electrical properties of the BNKT18 ceramics have been improved with the addition of Er₂O₃, and the BNKT18 ceramics doped with 0.6 wt.% Er₂O₃ have the highest piezoelectric constant (d₃₃ = 138 pC/N), the highest planar coupling factor (k_p = 0.2382), the highest remnant polarization (P_r = 25.2 μC/cm²), the higher relative dielectric constant (ε_r = 936) and lower dissipation factor (tanδ = 0.047) at a frequency of 10 kHz. Moreover, the T_m and T_d of the samples increase with the addition of Er₂O₃.     

Microstructure and piezoelectric properties of lead-free 0.95(Na0.5K0.5)NbO3–0.05(Bi0.5K0.5)Zr1−x Ti x O3 ceramics

0.95(Na_0.5K_0.5)NbO₃–0.05(Bi_0.5K_0.5)Zr_1?x Ti _x O₃ (abbreviated as KNN–BKZT _x ) ceramics were prepared by the conventional solid state method, and the effect of the Ti content on the surface morphology, crystalline structure, and electrical properties of KNN–BKZT _x ceramics were mainly investigated. With the increase of Ti content, the temperature of the orthorhombic–tetragonal (O–T) phases transitions shifted to lower temperatures, and the O–T phase boundary of KNN–BKZT _x ceramics was identified in the composition with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3 at room temperature. It was considered that the piezoelectric properties of the ceramics were enhanced significantly owing to the more possible polarization states resulting from the coexistence of two phases. The ceramic with x = 0.2 exhibited optimum properties: d ₃₃ = 260 pC/N, k _p = 0.38, and T _C = 323 °C.     

Structure and electrical properties of the Ho2O3 doped 0.82Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3–0.18Bi0.5K0.5TiO3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

Ho₂O₃ (0–0.7?wt%)-doped 0.82Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃–0.18Bi_0.5K_0.5TiO₃ (BNKT18) lead-free piezoelectric ceramics were synthesized by a conventional solid-state reaction method. The effects of Ho₂O₃ on the microstructure and electrical properties were investigated. X-ray diffraction data shows that Ho₂O₃ in an amount of 0.1–0.7?wt% can diffuse into the lattice of the BNKT18 ceramics and form the pure perovskite phase. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images indicate that the grain sizes of BNKT18 ceramics decrease with the increase of Ho₂O₃ content; in addition, the modified ceramics have the clear grain boundary and a uniformly distributed grain size. At room temperature, the electrical properties of the BNKT18 ceramics have been improved with the addition of Ho₂O₃, and the BNKT18 ceramics doped with 0.3wt.% Ho₂O₃ have the highest piezoelectric constant (d ₃₃?=?137?pC/N), the highest remnant polarization (P _r?=?26.9?μC/cm²), the higher relative dielectric constant (ε _r?=?980) and lower dissipation factor (tanδ?=?0.046) at a frequency of 10?kHz. The BNKT18 ceramics doped with 0.1?wt% Ho₂O₃ have the highest planar coupling factor (k _p?=?0.2426).     

Ferroelectric properties of (1 − x)Bi(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3–xPbZrO3 ceramics

The (1 − x)Bi(Zn_1/2Ti_1/2)O₃–xPbZrO₃ solid solution ceramics were prepared by using solid-state reaction method, and their ferroelectric properties were investigated. It was found that the perovskite structure is stable for compositions with x ≥ 0.900. Within this composition range, the crystal structure of the solid solution preserves the orthorhombic symmetry of PbZrO₃ (PZ). The Curie point of the ceramics was found to decrease with increasing Bi(Zn_1/2Ti_1/2)O₃ (BZT) content. The intermediate ferroelectric phase of PZ was stabilized by BZT addition and exists within a much wider temperature range in the solid solution.     

Gd2O3 doped 0.82Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3–0.18Bi0.5K0.5TiO3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

Gd₂O₃ (0–0.8 wt.%)-doped 0.82Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃–0.18Bi_0.5K_0.5TiO₃ (BNKT18) lead-free piezoelectric ceramics were synthesized by a conventional solid-state process. The effects of Gd₂O₃ on the microstructure, the dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) data shows that Gd₂O₃ in an amount of 0.2–0.8 wt.% can diffuse into the lattice of BNKT18 ceramics and form a pure perovskite phase. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images indicate that the grain size of BNKT18 ceramics decreases with the increase of Gd₂O₃ content; in addition, all the modified ceramics have a clear grain boundary and a uniformly distributed grain size. At room temperature, the ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of the BNKT18 ceramics have been improved with the addition of Gd₂O₃, and the BNKT18 ceramics doped with 0.4 wt.% Gd₂O₃ have the highest piezoelectric constant (d₃₃ = 137 pC/N), highest relative dielectric constant (ε_r = 1023) and lower dissipation factor (tan δ = 0.044) at a frequency of 10 kHz. The BNKT18 ceramics doped with 0.2 wt.% Gd₂O₃ have the highest planar coupling factor (k_p = 0.2463).     

Microstructure and electrical properties of (1 − x)K0.5Na0.5NbO3–x(Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Zr0.1Ti0.9)O3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

The (1 ? x)K_0.5Na_0.5NbO₃ ? x(Ba_0.85Ca_0.15)(Zr_0.1Ti_0.9)O₃ (KNN–BCTZ) lead-free ceramics were fabricated by conventional solid-state sintering technique. The microstructure and electrical properties of the ceramics were investigated. The X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the ceramics formed a single phase perovskite solid solutions with the symmetry of orthorhombic at x < 0.03. The crystal phase of the ceramics changed from orthorhombic phase to pseudocubic phase when x > 0.04. The coexistence of orthorhombic and pseudocubic (tetragonal) phases was observed near room temperature when 0.03 ≤ x ≤ 0.04. The grains grew up obviously when 2 mol% BCTZ was added, but the grain size was found to reduce gradually with further increasing BCTZ content. The T _C and T _O-T decreased with the increasing BCTZ content. The ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties were abruptly degraded as x ≥ 0.05. Optimum properties (d ₃₃ = 136 pC/N, k _p = 27 %, k _t = 26.5 %, Q _m = 25, P _r = 14.67 μC/cm², E _c = 11.23 kV/cm, T _C = 347 °C, $\varepsilon_{33}^{\text{T}} /\varepsilon_{0} = 8 6 1. 5$ ε 33 T / ε 0 = 8 6 1.5 , tan δ = 0.04) were obtained for the ceramica with x = 0.03.