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Low temperature consolidated lead-free ferroelectric niobate ceramics with improved electrical properties

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Mirva Eriksson ,
Haixue Yan ,
Mats Nygren ,
Mike J. Reece  and
Zhijian Shen
Mirva Eriksson
Affiliation:
Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
Haixue Yan
Affiliation:
School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, United Kingdom; and Nanoforce Technology Ltd., London, E1 4NS, United Kingdom
Mats Nygren
Affiliation:
Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
Mike J. Reece
Affiliation:
School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, United Kingdom; and Nanoforce Technology Ltd., London, E1 4NS, United Kingdom
Zhijian Shen*
Affiliation:
Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

There is a concerted effort to develop lead-free piezoelectric ceramics. (Na0.5K0.5)NbO3-based ceramics have good electrical properties, and are a potential replacement material for lead zirconate titanate piezoelectric ceramics. In this work a commercial powder based on (Na0.5K0.5)NbO3 with an initial particle size of ∼260 nm was consolidated by spark plasma sintering (SPS). To avoid volatilization, high mechanical pressures were used to minimize the densification temperature. It was found that under a uniaxial pressure of 100 MPa, fully densified compacts can be prepared at 850 °C. Ceramics densified at such a low temperature demonstrate an unusually high remanent polarization (30 μC/cm2) and high d33 (146 pC/N). The improved ferroelectric properties are ascribed to the homogeneous, dense, and submicron grained microstructure achieved.

Keywords

CeramicFerroelectricitySintering
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 25 , Issue 2 , February 2010 , pp. 240 - 247
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2010

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