• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2007.11a
• /
• pp.280-280
• /
• 2007

Lead oxide-based ferroelectrics are the most widely used materials for piezoelectric actuators, sensors and transducers due to their excellent piezoelectric properties. Considering lead toxicity, there is great interest in developing lead-free piezoelectric materials, which are biocompatible and environmentally friendlier. Recently alkali oxide materials, including sodium - potassium niobate (NKN), have been given attention in view of their ultrasonic application and also as promising candidates for piezoelectric lead-free system. However, it is difficult to sinter such NKN-based materials via conventional sintering process. In this reason, many researchers have investigated hot press, hot isostatic press or spark-plasma sintering of NKN-based ceramics. In this study, as candidates for lead-free piezoelectric materials, dense (Na,K,Li)(Nb,Sb)$O_3$ systems were developed by conventional sintering process. The microstructures and piezoelectric properties of the (Na,K,Li)(Nb,Sb)$O_3$ systems were investigated as a function of variable compositions. The excellent piezoelectric and electromechanical properties indicate that this system is potentially good candidate as lead-free material for a wide range of electro-mechanical transducer applications.

• Journal of Powder Materials
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.509-515
• /
• 2023

Lead-free perovskite ceramics, which have excellent energy storage capabilities, are attracting attention owing to their high power density and rapid charge-discharge speed. Given that the energy-storage properties of perovskite ceramic capacitors are significantly improved by doping with various elements, modifying their chemical compositions is a fundamental strategy. This study investigated the effect of Zn doping on the microstructure and energy storage performance of potassium sodium niobate (KNN)-based ceramics. Two types of powders and their corresponding ceramics with compositions of (1-x)(K,Na)NbO₃-xBi(Ni_2/3Ta_1/3)O₃ (KNN-BNT) and (1-x)(K,Na)NbO₃-xBi(Ni_1/3Zn_1/3Ta_1/3)O₃ (KNN-BNZT) were prepared via solid-state reactions. The results indicate that Zn doping retards grain growth, resulting in smaller grain sizes in Zn-doped KNN-BNZT than in KNN-BNT ceramics. Moreover, the Zn-doped KNN-BNZT ceramics exhibited superior energy storage density and efficiency across all x values. Notably, 0.9KNN-0.1BNZT ceramics demonstrate an energy storage density and efficiency of 0.24 J/cm³ and 96%, respectively. These ceramics also exhibited excellent temperature and frequency stability. This study provides valuable insights into the design of KNN-based ceramic capacitors with enhanced energy storage capabilities through doping strategies.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2006.11a
• /
• pp.210-220
• /
• 2006

Dense $((Na_{0.5}K_{0.5})_{1-x}Li_x)(Nb_{0.8}Ta_{0.2})O_3$ ceramics were developed by conventional sintering process. The electrical properties of $((Na_{0.5}K_{0.5})_{1-x}Li_x)(Nb_{0.8}Ta_{0.2})O_3$ ceramics were investigated as a function of Li substitution. When the sample sintered at $1100^{\circ}C$ for 4 h with the Substitution of 2 mol% Li, electro-mechanical coupling factor ($k_p$) and piezoelectric coefficient ($d_{33}$) were found to reach the highest values of 0.42 and 210 pC/N, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.48 no.6
• /
• pp.641-647
• /
• 2011

The present study aims to identify the effect of sintering atmosphere [$O_2$, 75$N_2$-25 $H_2$ (mol%) and $H_2$] on microstructural evolution at the relatively low sintering temperature of 1040$^{\circ}C$. Samples sintered in $O_2$ showed a bimodal microstructure consisting of fine matrix grains and large abnormal grains. Sintering in 75 $N_2$ - 25 $H_2$ (mol %) and $H_2$ caused the extent of abnormal grain growth to increase. These changes in grain growth behaviour are explained by the effect of the change in step free energy with sintering atmosphere on the critical driving force necessary for rapid grain growth. The results show the possibility of fabricating $(K_{0.5}Na_{0.5})NbO_3$ at low temperature with various microstructures via proper control of sintering atmosphere.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.19 no.11
• /
• pp.1025-1028
• /
• 2006

Dense $0.95(Na_{0.5}K_{0.5})NbO_3-0.05LiTaO_3$ (NKN-5LT) ceramics were developed by conventional sintering process. Sintering temperature was lowered by adding $Na_2CO_3$ as a sintering aid. The electrical properties of NKN-5LT ceramics were investigated as a function of $Na_2CO_3$ concentration. When the sample sintered at $1000^{\circ}C$ for 4 h with the addition of 1 mol% $Na_2CO_3$, electro-mechanical coupling factor $(k_p)$ and piezoelectric coefficient $(d_{33})$ of NKN-5LT ceramics were found to reach the highest values of 0.43 and 190 pC/N, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
• /
• 2006.09a
• /
• pp.694-695
• /
• 2006

As a candidate for lead-free piezoelectric materials, dense $95(Na_{0.5}K_{0.5})NbO_3-5LiTaO_3$ (NKN-5LT) ceramics were developed by conventional sintering process. Sintering temperature was lowered by adding $Li_2O$ as a sintering aid. The electrical properties of NKN-5LT ceramics were investigated as a function of $Li_2O$ concentration. At the addition of 1 mol% $Li_2O$, electromechanical coupling factor $(k_P)$ and piezoelectric coefficient $(d_{33})$ of NKN-5LT ceramics were found to reach the highest values of 0.37 and 250 pC/N, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2007.06a
• /
• pp.276-276
• /
• 2007

As a candidate for lead-free piezoelectric materials, dense $(Na_xK_{0.94-x}Li_{0.06})NbO_3$ ceramics were developed by conventional sintering process. Sintering temperature was lowered by adding 1 mol% $Li_2O$ as a sintering aid. The electrical properties of $(Na_xK_{0.94-x}Li_{0.06})NbO_3$ ceramics were investigated as a function of Na/K ratio. When the sample sintered at $950^{\circ}C$ for 4 h with the compositions of morphotropic phase boundary, 0.47 < x < 0.51, electro-mechanical coupling factor ($k_p$) and piezoelectric coefficient ($d_{33}$) were found to reach the highest values of 0.42 and 190 pC/N, respectively. These excellent piezoelectric and electro-mechanical properties indicate that this system is potentially good candidate for lead-free material for a wide range of electro-mechanical transducer applications.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2007.06a
• /
• pp.256-256
• /
• 2007

As a candidate for lead-free piezoelectric materials, dense ($(Na_{0.47}K_{0.47}Li_{0.06})NbO_3$ (LNKN6) ceramics were developed by conventional sintering process. Sintering temperature was lowered by adding $Li_2O$ as a sintering aid. Abnormal grain growth in the LNKN6 ceramics was observed with varying $Li_2O$ content. The electrical properties of LNKN6 ceramics were investigated as a function of $Li_2O$ concentration. When the sample sintered at $1000^{\circ}C$ for 4h with the addition of 1 mol% $Li_2O$, electromechanical coupling factor ($k_p$) and piezoelectric coefficient ($d_{33}$) of LNKN6 ceramics were found to reach the highest values of 0.40 and 184 pC/N, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2006.06a
• /
• pp.315-316
• /
• 2006

Dense $0.95(Na_{0.5}K_{0.5})NbO_3-0.05LiTaO_3$ (NKN-LT) ceramics were developed by conventional sintering process. Sintering temperature was lowered by adding $Na_2O$ as a sintering aid. The electrical properties of NKN-LT ceramics were investigated as a function of $Na_2O$ concentration. When the sample sintered at $1000^{\circ}C$ for 4h with the addition of 1 mol% $Na_2O$, electromechanical coupling factor ($k_p$) and piezoelectric coefficient ($d_{33}$) of NKN-LT ceramics were found to reach the highest values of 0.43 and 190 pC/N, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.135-141
• /
• 2023

The volatilization of alkali ions in (K,Na)NbO₃ (KNN) ceramics was inhibited by doping them with alkaline earth metal ions. In addition, the grain growth behavior changed significantly as the sintering duration (t_s) increased. At 1,100 ℃, the volatilization of alkali ions in KNN ceramics was more suppressed when doped with alkaline earth metal ions with smaller ionic size. A Ca²⁺-doped KNN specimen with the least alkali ion volatilization exhibited a microstructure in which grain growth was completely suppressed, even under long-term sintering for t_s = 30 h. The grain growth in Sr²⁺-doped and Ba²⁺-doped KNN specimens was suppressed until t_s = 10 h. However, at t_s = 30 h, a heterogeneous microstructure with abnormal grains and small-sized matrix grains was observed. The size and number of abnormal grains and size distribution of matrix grains were considerably different between the Sr²⁺-doped and Ba²⁺-doped specimens. This microstructural diversity in KNN ceramics could be explained in terms of the crystal growth driving force required for two-dimensional nucleation, which was directly related to the number of vacancies in the material.