Abstract:
Utilizing solid-phase sintering technology, lead-free piezoelectric ceramics (K
0.44Na
0.52Li
0.04)(Nb
0.9Ta
0.06Sb
0.04)O
3 with high density and superior electrical properties were successfully fabricated at temperatures ranging from
1055 to
1070 ℃. The impact of various crystal structures of niobium pentoxide on the sintering behavior, phase composition, microstructure, and electrical characteristics of potassium sodium niobate-based piezoelectric ceramics was investigated. Experimental results demonstrate that Nb
2O
5 with coexistence of orthorhombic and monoclinic crystal forms exhibits superior sintering characteristics and excellent electrical properties. The piezoelectric constant is
d33 = 211 pC·N
−1, electromechanical coupling coefficient is
kp = 44%, and dielectric loss is tan
δ =
0.0324. This suggests that incorporating a minor amount of monoclinic Nb
2O
5 can optimize the diffusion kinetics and phase boundary control of Nb
5+, thereby significantly improving the overall performance of the ceramics. This research provides a critical foundation for the selection of raw materials and structural design of high-performance lead-free piezoelectric ceramics.