Electrical properties of (1−x)(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3–xKNbO3 lead-free ceramics

Abstract In this investigation, a simple compound (1− x )(Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 )TiO 3 – x KNbO 3 (BNT– x KN, x =0–0.08) lead-free ceramics were synthesized successfully by conventional solid state reaction method. The piezoelectric, dielectric and ferroelectric characteristics of the ceramics were investigated and discussed. The results shows that moderate KN addition can enhance the piezoelectric response without an obvious decline of ferroelectric properties. The largest piezoelectric response is obtained in BNT–0.05KN, whereas largest electric-field-induced strain is obtained in BNT–0.06KN. An effective d 33 e f f of ~400 pC/N calculated from electric-field-induced strain is obtained in BNT–0.06KN. The present investigation demonstrates that addition KN effectively reduces the depolarization temperature of the BNT– x KN ceramics. The electrical properties of the ceramics are tightly related to their depolarization temperature.