Influence of the sintering temperature and Ag2O dopants on microstructure and piezoelectric properties of 0.94(K0.5Na0.5) NbO3-0.06LiNbO(3) lead-free ceramics

Abstract

In this paper, the non-stoichiometric compositions of (1-x)0.94(K0.5Na0.5) NbO3-0.06LiNbO(3) + x mol% Ag2O (where x = 0, 0.05, 0.07, 0.08, 0.1 and 0.15, respectively) ceramics were fabricated as a function of the amount of Ag2O addition. The effects of Ag2O dopants and sintering temperature on the phase, the microstructure and piezoelectric properties of (1-x)0.94(K0.5Na0.5) NbO3-0.06LiNbO(3) + x mol% Ag2O ceramics were investigated. The 0.94(K0.5Na0.5)NbO3-0.06LiNbO(3) ceramics doped with Ag2O (x = 0.07) were well sintered at 1040 degrees C for 2 h. The ceramics with x = 0.07 exhibit optimum piezoelectric properties of d(33) = 272 pC/N, k(p) = 37.9%, P-r = 25.2 mu C/cm(2), and E-c = 30.7 kV/cm. (C) 2013 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.