This study investigated the low temperature sintering with various templates of Bi-based lead-free piezoelectric ceramics. The effects of using CuO-coated Na_0.5Bi_4.5Ti₄O₁₅ templates on the sintering behavior as well as the dielectric, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties of Bi_1/2(Na_0.78K_0.22)_1/2TiO₃ (BNKT) ceramics have been examined. In comparison with the specimens sintered with the Na_0.5Bi_4.5Ti₄O₁₅ templates without CuO coating, those sintered with the CuO-coated Na_0.5Bi_4.5Ti₄O₁₅ templates showed larger template sizes as well as a larger electric field induced strain (S_max/E_max) of 422 pm/V after sintering at temperatures as low as 975℃. These results are promising for low-cost multilayer ceramic actuator applications.

This study investigated the microstructure and piezoelectric properties of lead-free 0.74(Bi_1/2Na_1/2)TiO3-0.26SrTiO₃ (BNST26) piezoelectric ceramics sintered using a microwave furnace. For comparison, specimens were also prepared using a conventional furnace sintering (CFS). Average grain sizes of 2.4 μm and 3.2 μm were obtained in the sample sintered at 1,100℃ for 5 min using microwave sintering (MWS) and at 1,175℃ for 2 h using CFS, respectively. To quantify the changes in the microstructures and electrical properties according to the sintering conditions, the polarization hysteresis, bipolar and unipolar strain curves, and temperature dependence of permittivity were evaluated. As a result, it was determined that the Pmax (maximum polarization), Pr (remanent polarization) and Smax (maximum strain) values tend to increase with the average grain size. Based on these results, it is concluded that the MWS method can produce lead-free ceramics with superior performance in a relatively short time compared to the conventional CFS method.

In this study, we investigated the optimum calcination temperature of lead-free 0.74(Bi_0.5Na_0.5)TiO₃-0.26SrTiO₃ (BNST) piezoelectric ceramics by analyzing the crystal structure, dielectric properties, and electric field-induced strain behavior. BNST ceramics prepared by conventional solid-state reaction methods at various calcination temperatures according to the industrial standard. All samples of BNST ceramics were subsequently sintered at 1,175℃ for 2 h. Crystal structure classification of the ceramics showed a single perovskite phase, with no second phase detectable for the samples calcined at 750℃ or higher. BNST samples calcined at 850℃ exhibited the most optimal values for itsand the common physical parameters of density = 5.518 g/㎤, ε = 1,871.837, tanδ = 0.047, and d₃₃^* = 874 pm/V.

(Na0.525K0.4425Li0.0375)(Nb0.9975Sb0.065Ta0.0375)O3 + 0.3 wt%CoO ceramics were fabricated as a functionof CuO addition by traditional solid state sintering process in order to develop excellent lead-freepiezoelectric ceramics composition. The addition of CuO in the LNKNTS composition ceramics caneffectively enhance the densification of the ceramics, resulting in the oxygen vacancies as hardeningeffect. The excellent piezoelectric properties of electromechanical coupling factor(kP) of 0.378, piezoelectricconstant(d33) of 152 pC/N were obtained from the 1.0 mol% CuO doped LNKNTS ceramics sintered at1,020℃ for 3 h.

MnO2-doped 0.985[Li0.04(Na0.545K0.46)0.96(Nb0.81Ta0.15Sb0.04)]O3+0.015KNbO3(0.985LNKNTS+0.015KNbO3)lead-free ceramics were fabricated by conventional solid state method to develop excellent dielectric andpiezoelectric properties. The result of X-ray diffraction patterns obviously indicated that all of thespecimen has pure perovskite structure without secondary phase. In addition, orthorhombic phase andcoexistance region of orthorhombic-tetragonal phase (MPB) were observed with amount of MnO2. Theoptimal values of ρ=4.70 g/cm3, d33=238 pC/N, kP=0.46, Qm=121, εr=849, and TC=225℃ were obtained at0.01 mol% MnO2 doped 0.985LNKNTS+0.015KNbO3 ceramics sintered at 990℃ for 5 h, respectively. Hence, it was indicated that the suitable amount of MnO2 could improve the electrical properties of0.985[Li0.04(Na0.545K0.46)0.96](Nb0.81Ta0.15Sb0.04)]O3+0.015KNbO3 ceramics.

We investigated the effect of excess CuO on the sintering behavior, ferroelectric, andpiezoelectric properties of lead-free Bi0.5(Na0.82K0.18)0.5TiO3 (BNKT) ceramics. The addition of excess CuOwas found to greatly contribute to the densification and grain growth, however, excess CuO over 3 mol%was precipitated at grain boundaries after sintering. BNKT with 1∼2 mol% CuO in excess sintered at975℃ showed piezoelectric properties comparable to those of unmodified BNKT sintered at 1,175℃. These results seem meaningful for its application to low cost multilayer actuators (MLAs) becauselow firing ceramics make it possible to apply less expensive base metals to the inner electrode ofMLAs.

(Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Ti0.9Zr0.1)O3+0.04wt% CeO2 lead-free ceramics were prepared by conventional oxide-mixed method and the effect of sintering temperature on microstructure, dielecrric and piezoelectric properties were investigated. Improved piezoelectric properties have been observed at 1,400℃ sintering temperature which show the optimal electrical properties, kp~0.412, d33~316 Pc/N, Qm~144, ~3,345 and Tc~85℃. These results show that the sintering temperature plays an important role in piezoelectric properties.

(Na,K)NbO3-based piezoelectric ceramics were synthesized by a liquid phase sintering method with a selected glass frit. The effects of the content of the glass frit and the sintering temperature on the microstructure and the electrical properties of the samples were investigated. With the 0.1 wt% of glass frit content, (Na0.52K0.44Li0.06)(Nb0.84Ta0.10Sb0.06)O3 (NKL-NTS) ceramics showed the maximum values of the relative density (99.1%) and the electro-mechanical coupling factor (kp: 0.32) at the sintering temperature of 1,050℃. It might mean that a liquid phase sintering with a suitable glass frit having the lower flow temperature could improve the relative density and the piezoelectric properties.

In this study, in order to develop excellent lead free piezoelectric ceramics for piezoelectric actuators application, Li0.04(Na0.50K0.50)0.96[(Nb0.86Ta0.10Sb0.04)0.994Co0.015]O3+0.0025SrO + 0.15 wt%K2CO3 + x wt%Nb2O5 (x = 0 - 0.5 wt%) (abbreviated as LNKNTSCS-xN) ceramics were fabricated by a conventional sintering technique. the phase structure, microstructure and electrical properties were investigated with a emphasis on the influence of the Nb2O5 content. High electrical properties of d33= 234 pC/N, kp= 0.392, εr= 1,395, ρ= 4.70 g/cm3 were obtained from the specimen with x= 0.4 wt%, which suggests that the composition ceramics is a promising lead-free piezoelectric material.

The (Na0.52K0.44)(Nb0.9Sb0.06)O3-0.04dLiTaO3 (NKNS-LT) ceramics with various Cu2O concentration were prepared by the conventional solid state reaction method. The Cu2O content was varied in the range of 0.1~0.4 wt%. The effects of Cu on microstructure, crystallographic phase transition, and piezoelectric properties were investigated. The material with perovskite structure had a tetragonal phase (T1) when Cu2O concentration was less than 0.3 wt% and it transformed to another tetragonal phase (T2) when the Cu2O amount was greater than 0.3 wt%. The phase boundary between T1 and T2 phases appeared at around 0.3 wt% of Cu2O concentration. The piezoelectric properties were shown the maximum values at the composition of the phase boundary. The electro-mechanical coupling factor (kp) was 0.42 and the piezoelectric charge constant (d33) was 245 pC/N at the 0.3 wt% of Cu2O concentration.

In this study, piezoelectric and dielectric properties of Lead-free 0.97[(K0.5Na0.5)(Nb0.97Sb0.03)O3] + 0.03[(Bi0.5K0.5)TiO3] (abbreviated as 0.97NKNS-0.03BKT)ceramics synthesized by conventional solid-state reaction process were investigated as a function of K5.4Cu1.3Ta10O29 addition. The results indicated that the K5.4Cu1.3Ta10O29 addition significantly improved the sinterability, grain growth and piezoelctric properties of 0.97NKNS-0.03BKT ceramics. The optimum values as planar piezoelectric coupling coefficient (kp= 0.355), piezoelectric constant (d33= 207 pC/N) and mechanical quality factor (Qm= 128) were obtained when 0.009KCT was added. The electromechanical coupling factor(kp )was slightly decreased according to the increasing temperature.

Lead-free piezoelectric ceramics with the composition of (Na0.54K0.46)0.96Li0.04(Nb1-0.10-xTa0.10Sbx)O3 (x= 0∼8 mol%) were fabricated by nomal sintering at 1,090℃ for 5 h. the phase structure, microstructure and electrical properties were investigated with a emphasis on the influence of the Sb content. All samples exhibit a single perovskite phase over the whole compositional range. For the ceramics with x= 4 [mol%], two phase transitions are observed at 75℃ and 366℃, corresponding to the phase transitions of orthorhombic to tetragonal (To-t) and tetragonal to cubic (Tc), respectively. high electrical properties of d33= 210.83 pC/N, kp= 40%, εr= 1,091.35, ρ= 4.54 g/㎠ were obtained from the specimen with x= 4 [mol%], which suggests that the composition ceramics is a promising lead-free piezoelectric material.

In this study, lead-free (K0.5Na0.5+X)(Nb0.96Sb0.04)O3+0.2mol%La2O3+1.2mol% K4CuNb8O23 (X= 0∼0.025) ceramics were fabricated by normal sintering method at 1060℃ for 5 h. Microstructures, piezoelectric and dielectric properties of specimens were investigated with special emphasis in the influence of Na excess addition. The grain size of specimen was slightly decreased with increasing Na content. In the 2 [mol%] Na excess addition of NKNS ceramics, density, electromechanical coupling factor, piezoelectric constant and electromechancal quality factor of specimen were found to reach the optimum values of 4.25 [g/cm3], 0.4357, 154.43 [pC/N] and 580, respectively.