Effects of sintering temperature on the piezoelectric properties of (Bi,Na) TiO3-based composites for energy harvesting applications

Abstract

The effects of sintering temperature on the piezoelectric properties of (Bi,Na)TiO3-(Ba,Sr)TiO3 lead free ceramics were investigated. Lead free 0.97(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-0.03(Ba0.5Sr0.5)TiO3 ceramics were fabricated by a conventional ceramic sintering method. The microstructure, crystal structure, and piezoelectric properties of the lead free 0.97(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-0.03(Ba0.5Sr0.5)TiO3 piezoelectric ceramics were investigated by varying the sintering temperature from 1125 to 1225 degrees C. The composites obtained at optimum conditions showed piezoelectric charge coefficient d(33) of 108 pC/N, electromechanical coupling factor k(p) of 33.9%, mechanical quality factor Q(m) of 227.9, relative dielectric permittivity epsilon(r) of 613.1, the figure of merits of 2.14 pm(2)/N and the generated output power of 25.48 nW/cm(2) were obtained. Our researches indicate that optimized sintering temperature and processing conditions can improve the piezoelectric properties of lead free 0.97(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-0.03(Ba0.5Sr0.5)TiO3 ceramics. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.