Ferroelectric properties of rare-earth oxides doped (K 0.4Na 0.6) 0.95Li 0.05(Nb 0.95Sb 0.05)O 3 lead-free piezoceramics

Abstract

The rare-earth oxides (Pr 2O 3 and Yb 2O 3)-doped (K 0.4Na 0.6) 0.95Li 0.05(Nb 0.95Sb 0.05)O 3 [KNNLS] ceramics were prepared using conventional solid sintering method for improving the ferroelectric properties of KNN-based ceramics. The effects of rare-earth oxides on the crystal structure, microstructure, dielectric and ferroelectric properties of the ceramics were systematically studied. The Curie temperature ( T c) decreases slightly with the increase of Pr 2O 3 and Yb 2O 3. The results show that Pr 2O 3 and Yb 2O 3 can greatly enhance the ferroelectric properties of KNNLS. The KNNLS-0.1 mol% Pr 2O 3 ceramic and KNNLS-0.1 mol% Yb 2O 3 ceramic show excellent ferroelectric properties: P r = 42.8 μC/cm 2, E c = 7.2 kV/cm and P r = 37.3 μC/cm 2, E c = 12.8 kV/cm, respectively.