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Effect of sol–gel synthesis method on the structural, electrical, and ferroelectric properties of lead-free K0.5Na0.5NbO3 ceramic

  • Original Paper: Sol-gel and hybrid materials for dielectric, electronic, magnetic and ferroelectric applications
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Abstract

To shape the crystal and improve the internal properties of the material, selection of a suitable method is of paramount importance. High interdiffusion of cations, low production temperature, and control of stoichiometry at the molecular level are the main impacts, which should be reflected by a synthesis process. In this paper, the sol–gel technique was used for the synthesis of sodium potassium niobate (KNN) ferroelectric material because the presence of liquid media can control the uniform growth of crystals. XRD patterns of the sample showed a perovskite phase with orthorhombic structure at room temperature. Structural analysis was performed on the basis of SEM and FTIR characterization. The presence of two anomalies justifies the large ferroelectric region, and conduction process was due to the presence of singly ionized anion vacancies at higher applied electric fields.

Presence of two anomalies of KNN by sol–gel method

Temperature dependence of dielectric constant at 500, 700, and 1000 kHz frequencies respectively revels the change in structure and observed two transitions temperature. The first phase transition is observed around 285 °C which corresponds to the orthorhombic to a tetragonal phase transition. The second phase transition is observed around 466, 465, and 463 °C at 500, 700, and 1000 kHz, respectively, which corresponds to tetragonal to a cubic phase transition.

Highlights

  • A polycrystalline KNN precursor solution has been prepared by using sodium acetate, potassium acetate and niobium pentaethoxide as an initial chemical reagents using the sol-gel method.

  • The pure-phase XRD pattern of KNN powder calcined at 700 °C was achieved, and from the SEM of KNN ceramic it is clear that fine and homogeneous ceramics were formed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra (FTIR) of KNN powder showed wave number in the range 4000–400 cm−1. FTIR analysis shows the absence of organic matter at such a high calcination temperature.

  • The dielectric study showed two anomalies, which occurred due to structural change in the material with the rise in temperature. The first phase transition corresponds to the orthorhombic to tetragonal phase transition. The second phase transition corresponds to tetragonal to cubic phase transition.

  • P–E hysteresis loops show that the measured value of remnant polarization and coercive field increases with increase in applied electric fields. The higher value of remnant polarization shows a higher degree of orientation of ferroelectric domains towards the applied electric fields.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, HP, 171005, India

    Shammi Kumar & Nagesh Thakur

  2. School of Physics, Shoolini University, Solan, HP, 173229, India

    Mamta Shandilya & Gun Anit Kaur

  3. I3N-Aveiro, Department of Physics, University of Aveiro, 3810 193, Aveiro, Portugal

    Shweta Thakur

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  1. Shammi Kumar
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  2. Mamta Shandilya
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Correspondence to Mamta Shandilya.

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Kumar, S., Shandilya, M., Thakur, S. et al. Effect of sol–gel synthesis method on the structural, electrical, and ferroelectric properties of lead-free K0.5Na0.5NbO3 ceramic. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 92, 215–223 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-019-05077-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-019-05077-1

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