Preparation and properties of (Bi 1/2Na 1/2)TiO 3–Ba(Ti,Zr)O 3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

Abstract

Lead-free piezoelectric ceramics based on bismuth sodium titanate (Bi 1/2Na 1/2)TiO 3 (BNT)–barium zirconate titanate Ba(Ti,Zr)O 3 (BZT) were prepared by using a modified sintering process. The BNT–BZT ceramics sintered at 1180 °C for 3 h in air showed perovskite structure with high densities around 5.32–5.82 g/cm 3 (~97% as relative density). Focusing on the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) of BNT–BZT system, the ferroelectric, dielectric and piezoelectric properties of the BNT–BZT ceramics were studied. In the case of (Bi 1/2Na 1/2)TiO 3– xBa(Ti 0.942Zr 0.058)O 3 solid solution ceramics, the maximum of piezoelectric constant d 33 (147 pC/N) was obtained for the ceramic with 9% BZT, which has a tetragonal phase near the MPB region. The BNT–BZT system was expected to be a new and promising candidate for lead-free piezoelectric ceramics.