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Enhanced properties of KNLN–BZ lead-free piezoelectric ceramics via three-step sintering

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Abstract

In this work, 0.94(K0.48Na0.52)0.935Li0.065NbO3–0.06BaZrO3 (abbreviated as KNLN–0.06BZ) lead-free ceramics were prepared by conventional sintering (CS) and three-step sintering (TSS). The effects of sintering process on the microstructure and piezoelectric properties of ceramics were systematically studied. The result showed that, the ceramic prepared by TSS obtained higher density and better electrical properties compared to the ceramic prepared by CS. As we all know, the formation of defects will have a pinning effect on the domain switching. According to the results of impedance spectroscopy analysis, the ceramics prepared by TSS have fewer oxygen vacancies, which will make domain switching easier at an applied electric field, resulting in more excellent piezoelectric activity. The ceramics prepared by TSS with different sintering conditions showed different properties, but multiple phases may coexist in all ceramic samples according to the analysis of XRD, and the domain can adequately switch at an external electric field due to lower energy barrier at the phase boundary, resulting in high piezoelectric properties of ceramics. Hence, when the sintering condition was 1050 °C/0 min–1150 °C/5 min–1070 °C/20 h, the ceramic samples exhibited an optimal performance of ρ = 4.51 g/cm3, d33 ~ 258 pC/N, kp ~ 0.35, and TC ~ 328 ºC. This superior result manifests that the KNLN–0.06BZ ceramic prepared by TSS is a promising ceramic for industrial application.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by International Scientific and Technological Innovation Cooperation Key Projects for National Key R&D Program of China (No: 2016YFE0203900), National Key R&D Program of China (No: 2018YFC0116100), and Nature Science Foundation of HuBei Province of China (2018CFB771). The authors thank the Analytical and Testing Center of the Huazhong University of Science.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Optical and Electronic Information, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, People’s Republic of China

    Jianjia Zhang, Yue Wen, Mengmeng Hao, Fangfang Zeng, Huitao Guo, Guifen Fan & Wenzhong Lv

  2. Key Lab of Functional Materials for Electronic Information, MOE, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, People’s Republic of China

    Jianjia Zhang, Yue Wen, Mengmeng Hao, Fangfang Zeng, Huitao Guo, Guifen Fan & Wenzhong Lv

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  1. Jianjia Zhang
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  2. Yue Wen
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  3. Mengmeng Hao
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  4. Fangfang Zeng
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Correspondence to Guifen Fan.

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Zhang, J., Wen, Y., Hao, M. et al. Enhanced properties of KNLN–BZ lead-free piezoelectric ceramics via three-step sintering. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 32, 19778–19785 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-021-06502-4

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