BaZrO3-modified (K,Na)NbO3-based lead-free piezoceramics: Enhanced electrical properties and high fatigue resistance

As legislative restrictions on the use of hazardous lead-containing materials are approaching and the demand for environmentally-benign piezoelectric materials continues to grow, there is an urgent need for viable lead-free piezoelectric alternatives. (K,Na)NbO3 (KNN)-based ceramics are environmentally-friendly, however, their piezoelectric properties still fall short of those of commercial lead-based ceramics. Herein, we report an alternative KNN material with the composition of (100-x)(K0.49Na0.49Li0.02)(Nb0.8Ta0.2)O3-xBaZrO3 + 2 wt % MnO ceramics prepared by a conventional solid-reaction approach. The addition of BaZrO3 produces finer domains and thus improves the piezoelectric and dielectric properties. MnO acts as sintering aid to reduce alkaline elements volatilization by lowering the sintering temperature. The mitigated volatilization of alkaline elements significantly reduces the concentration of oxygen vacancies, and thus contributes to enhanced piezoelectric properties. An optimal normalized strain (d33*) up to 476 pm/V at room temperature with a low driving electric field of 1.5 kV/mm is achieved at x = 4. More encouragingly, the ceramics also possess excellent temperature stability and fatigue resistance.