Ferroelectric domain formation and photocatalytic activity on porous alkali niobate piezoelectric ceramics

Abstract

Present study showed synthesis of novel type of porous alkali niobate piezoelectric ceramics, and the formation of domains and photocatalytic activity for the porous piezoelectric ceramics were investigated while comparing with dense ceramics to confirm enhancement of domain orientation and photocatalytic activity around pores. Porous Li0.06Na0.47K0.47NbO3 piezoelectric ceramics were synthesized by a template method using polymethylmethacrylate as a pore former agent. Uniform pores with 6 µm in diameter were dispersed in the porous ceramics. Porous ceramics synthesized with 10 vol % of the pore former agent showed piezoelectric voltage coefficient, 29 mVm/N, which is same as that of the dense ceramics. Smaller striped domains formed at an edge of pores on the porous ceramics, indicating that orientation of domains was promoted by electric field concentration around the pores. Through photoreduction reaction of Ag+ ion, local precipitation of Ag was shown around the pores on the poled porous ceramics, whereas Ag was located over an entire surface of unpoled porous ceramics. Highest photocatalytic activity was shown for the poled porous ceramics in photodecomposition test of methylene blue. These results clearly indicated photocatalytic activity was enhanced on ferroelectric domains around pores of porous piezoelectric ceramics.