Piezoelectric and dielectric properties of lead-free (Na0.44K0.52)Nb0.84O3-Li-0.04(Sb0.06Ta0.1)O-3 ceramics with a CuO content

Abstract

Lead-free NKN-LST ceramics with a content of CuO were fabricated by a conventional mixed oxide method. The results indicate that the content of CuO significantly influences the sintering, microstructure, phase transition and electrical properties of NKN-LST ceramics. For the NKN-LST-xCuO ceramics sintered at 1050 degrees C, the bulk density increased with the content of CuO and showed a maximum value at a content of 2.0 mol% CuO. The Curie temperature of the NKN-LST-xCuO ceramics slightly decreased towards a lower temperature with increasing CuO content. The dielectric constant, piezoelectric constant and electromechanical coupling factor increased with a small amount of CuO content, which might be due to the increase in density. A high d(33) = 153 pC/N, k(p) = 35% and E = 925 were obtained for the NKN-LST-0.5CuO ceramics sintered at 1050 degrees C for 2 h.