High Piezoelectric Properties and High <i>T</i><sub>C</sub> in KNN-Based Lead-Free Ceramics Sintered in Reducing Atmosphere

Abstract

Lead-free MnO doped 0.955K0.5Na0.5NbO3-0.045Bi0.5Na0.5ZrO3(abbreviate as KNN-0.045BNZ) ceramics have been prepared by a conventional solid-state sintering method in a reducing atmosphere. The addition of MnO suppresses grain growth and eliminates the liquid phase. MnO dopant changes the crystalline structures of KNN-0.045BNZ ceramics from the classical Morphotropic Phase Boundary (MPB) with rhombohedral phase (R) and tetragonal phase (T) to the suppressed MPB with R/T phase. The 0.4% MnO doped KNN-0.045BNZ ceramics show an excellent electrical properties with quasi static piezoelectric constantd33=300 pC/N, Curie temperatureTC= 350 °C, insulation resistivity ρ=4.83 × 1011(Ω・cm), and high field piezoelectric constants =438 pm/V (atEmax= 25 kV/cm). The results indicate that the 0.4%Mn doped KNN-0.045BNZ ceramic is a promising lead-free piezoelectric candidate material for commercial applications.