(1 - x)PbZr0.54Tio.4603-xKNbO3 (0 〈 x 〈 25mo1%) (abbreviated as PZT-xKN) piezoelectric ceramics were successfully fabricated by a traditional sintering technique at 1225℃ for 30 min. The influence of KNbO3 content on the crystal structure and electrical properties of the PZT-xKN piezoelectric ceramics was studied. Samples with 0 〈 x 0.20 show a pure peroskite structure, indicating that ul KNbOdiffused ito the crystal lattice of PZT to form a single solid solution in this compositional range. A second Pb3Nb4013 phase is observed in the PZT-0.25KN sample, showing that the maximum solid solubility of KNbO3 in PZT matrix ceramic is less than 25mo1%. Compared with pure PZT piezoelectric ceramics, samples containing KNbO3 have smaller crystal grains. PZT-0.15KN exhibits excellent piezoelectric properties with d33 : 209 pC/N.
MgO-modified Li0.06(Na0.5K0.5)0.94NbO3O3 (L6NKN) lead-free piezoelectric ceramics were synthesized by normal sintering at a rela- tively low temperature of 1000℃. The crystalline phase, microstructure, and electrical properties of the ceramics were investigated with a special emphasis on the influence of MgO content. The addition of MgO effectively improves the sintembility of the L6NKN ceramics. X-my diffr cfion analysis indicates that the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) separating orthorhombic and tetragonal phases for the ceramics lies in the range of Mg doping content (x) from 0.3at% to 0.7at%. High electrical properties of the piezoelectric constant (d33=238 pC/N), planar electromechanical coupling coefficient (kp=41.5%), relative dielectric constant (εr=905), and remanent polarization (Pr=38.3 μC/cm2) are obtained from the specimen with x=0.5at%, which suggests that the Li0.06(Na0.5K0.5)0.94Nb(1-2x/5)MgxO3 (x=0.5at%) ceramic is a promising lead-free piezoelectric material.
Li/Sb-doped (Na,K)NbO3 with a nominal composition of [Li0.05(Na0.535K0.48)0.95](Nb0.94Sb0.06)O3 ceramic was synthesized by normal sintering. The phase structure, microstructure, and electrical properties were investigated with a special emphasis on the influence of the sintering temperature. A polymorphic phase transition (PPT) from orthorhombic to tetragonal symmetry was observed when the sintering temperature was raised from 1040 to 1050 ℃, whereby the piezoelectric coefficient d33 and the electromechanical coupling coefficient kp reached the peak values of 245 pC·N-1 and 41.2%, respectively. The PPT induced by varying the sintering temperature is due to the different volatilization extents of alkali metals and appears to a lower sintering temperature with increasing Li content. The trace modifying of alkali metal content is more effective than doping B site element to enhance the d33 value.