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Phase transition and electrical properties of (K0.5Na0.5)(Nb1-xTax)O3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

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Abstract

(K0.5Na0.5)(Nb1-xTax)O3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics have been prepared by an ordinary sintering technique. The results of X-ray diffraction reveal that Ta5+ diffuses into the K0.5Na0.5NbO3 lattices to form a solid solution with an orthorhombic perovskite structure. Because of the high melting temperature of KTaO3, the (K0.5Na0.5)(Nb1-xTax)O3 ceramics can be sintered at higher temperatures. The partial substitution of Ta5+ for the B-site ion Nb5+ decreases both paraelectric/cubic–ferroelectric/tetragonal and ferroelectric/tetragonal–ferroelectric/orthorhombic phase transition temperatures, TC and TO-T. It also induces a relaxor phase transition and weakens the ferroelectricity of the ceramics. The ceramics become ‘softened’, leading to improvements in d33, kp, kt and εr and a decease in Ec, Qm and Np. The ceramics with x=0.075–0.15 become optimum, having d33=127–151 pC/N, kp=0.43–0.44, kt=0.43–0.44, εr=541–712, tanδ=1.75–2.48% and TC=378–329 °C.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Physics and Materials Research Centre, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, P.R. China

    Dunmin Lin, K.W. Kwok & H.L.W. Chan

  2. College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, 610066, P.R. China

    Dunmin Lin

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  1. Dunmin Lin
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  2. K.W. Kwok
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  3. H.L.W. Chan
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Correspondence to Dunmin Lin.

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PACS

77.65.-j; 77.84.Dy; 77.84.-s

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Lin, D., Kwok, K. & Chan, H. Phase transition and electrical properties of (K0.5Na0.5)(Nb1-xTax)O3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics. Appl. Phys. A 91, 167–171 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-007-4391-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-007-4391-0

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