Grain size control of lead-free Li(0.06)(Na(0.5)K(0.5))(0.94)NbO(3) piezoelectric ceramics by Ba and Ti doping

• Published in: Journal of the European Ceramic Society Vol. 30; no. 2; pp. 295 - 299
• Main Authors: Kakimoto, Ken-Ichi, Ando, Kiyotaka, Ohsato, Hitoshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-01-2010
• ISSN: 0955-2219
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2009.07.030

In this study, Ba- and Ti-doped Li(0.06)(Na(0.5)K(0.5))(0.94)NbO(3) [(1 - x)Li(0.06)(Na(0.5)K(0.5))(0.94)NbO(3)-xBaTiO(3) (x = 0-0.07)] ceramics were prepared by using conventional solid state reaction method, and the microstructure and electric properties of these samples were investigated. The grain size distribution of non-doped Li(0.06)(Na(0.5)K(0.5))(0.94)NbO(3) ceramics was relatively wide. The microstructure was composed of grains ranging 1.1-5.0 km in size. However, with increasing Ba and Ti content, the grain size distribution became narrow and the average grain size decreased from 2.0 to 0.9 km in size. In particular, the microstructure of x = 0.07 sample was composed of grains ranging 0.5-2.2 km in size. As a result, the frequency dispersion of dielectric constant for the (1 - x)Li(0.06)(Na(0.5)K(0.5))(0.94)NbO(3)-xBaTiO(3) (x = 0-0.07) ceramics was reduced and the mechanical quality factor Q(m) was enhanced with increasing Ba and Ti content.