Jian Ma*a,
Juan Wua and
Bo Wu*b
aPhysics Department, Sichuan Province Key Laboratory of Information Materials, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China. E-mail: majian33@hotmail.com
bSichuan Province Key Laboratory of Information Materials and Devices Application, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu 610225, P. R. China. E-mail: wubo7788@126.com
First published on 23rd August 2018
In this work, we designed a new system of (1 − x)K0.44Na0.56Nb0.96Sb0.04O3-xBi0.45La0.05Na0.5ZrO3 (KNNS-xBLNZ, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.06) ceramics, and systemically investigated both their electrical performance and temperature stability. Through optimizing the composition, a relatively good comprehensive performance (e.g., d33 ∼ 455 ± 10 pC N−1, kp ∼ 0.47 ± 0.02, TC ∼ 266 °C, strain ∼ 0.148%, and ) is obtained in the ceramics with x = 0.040, which is attributed to the construction of a rhombohedral–orthorhombic–tetragonal (R–O–T) phase boundary. Moreover, a good temperature stability of remnant polarization (Pr) as well as strain value (Pr100 °C/PrRT ∼ 89.6%, Pr180 °C/PrRT ∼ 73.2%, S100 °C/SRT ∼ 92.6%, S180 °C/SRT ∼ 74.1%) is gained in KNNS-0.040BLNZ ceramics with a broad temperature range from room temperature to 180 °C. Hence, we believe that KNNS-xBLNZ ceramics opens a window for the practical application of lead-free ceramics.
Among all the lead-free piezoelectric materials, (K, Na)NbO3 has been regarded as a potential candidate due to its good comprehensive electrical properties especially its flexibility in terms of compositional modification.2–26 Saito et al. reported that alkali niobate ceramics based on Li, Ta, and Sb-modified KNN show high density and excellent performance (d33 ∼ 416 pC N−1; TC ∼ 253 °C) by the reactive-templated grain growth method in 2004.2 Ever then, researchers paid much attention to promote the electricity by constructing the multiphase boundary has been extensively applied in KNN-based lead-free materials.2–26 Recently, some breakthroughs in the KNN-based ceramics were achieved.4–7,32–34 For example, Wu et al. obtained a series of KNN-based lead-free ceramics systems in multiphase boundary (e.g., R–O–T, R–T) with giant piezoelectricity of ≥490 pC N−1, which are comparable to that of PZT materials.4–7 According to the previous works, Sb5+, Bi0.5M0.5ZrO3 (M = Na, K, Li, Ag), can effectively enhance electrical properties of KNN ceramics by constructing the multiphase boundary.3–8,10,14–16 Therefore, these additives are good candidates for constructing phase boundary to improve the electricity (especially the piezoelectric properties) in KNN-based ceramics.
As we known, La3+ has properties similar to Bi3+, such as the similar ionic radius, same valence state, and so on. Consequently, we exploited a new lead-free piezoelectric material system of (1 − x)K0.44Na0.56Nb0.96Sb0.04O3-xBi0.45La0.05Na0.5ZrO3 prepared by normal sintering, and systemically investigated both their electrical performance and temperature stability. Through optimizing the composition, and the R–O–T phase boundary was mediated in this ceramics. The relatively good comprehensive performance (e.g., d33 ∼ 455 ± 10 pC N−1, kp ∼ 0.47 ± 0.02, TC ∼ 266 °C, strain ∼ 0.148%, and ) is obtained in the ceramics with x = 0.040, which is attributed to the construction of R–O–T phase boundary. Moreover, a good temperature stability of remnant polarization (Pr) as well as strain value (Pr100 °C/PrRT ∼ 89.6%, Pr180 °C/PrRT ∼ 73.2%, S100 °C/SRT ∼ 92.6%, S180 °C/SRT ∼ 74.1%) is gained in KNNS-0.040BLNZ ceramics with a broad temperature range from room temperature to 180 °C. The related physical mechanisms were addressed.
The phase structure of the sintered cylindrical pellets is identified by X-ray diffraction meter (Cuα, DX-2700, Dandong, China), measured at 40 kV and 30 mA. The field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) (JSM-7500, Japan) has been used to measure their surface micro-structure and chemical compositions. The dielectric properties of the sintered samples were measured using an LCR analyzer (HP 4980, Agilent, U.S.A.) with varied temperatures in the range of −150–200 °C and 25–450 °C. The P–E loops and S–E curves of the cylindrical pellets were investigated by the ferroelectric tester (aixACCT, TF Analyzer 2000E, Germany). The kp was measured by a resonance-antiresonance method with the impedance analyzer (Impedance Analyzer, PV70A, Beijing, China). The d33 was measured by the commercial Berlincourt-type of d33 meter, (ZJ-3A, China) for the poled samples.
Fig. 1 XRD patterns of the (1 − x)K0.44Na0.56Nb0.96Sb0.04O3-xBi0.45La0.05Na0.5ZrO3 ceramics in the 2θ range of (a) 20–60°, (b) 44–47°. |
Fig. 2 εr–T curves of (1 − x)K0.44Na0.56Nb0.96Sb0.04O3-xBi0.45La0.05Na0.5ZrO3 ceramics in temperature range of −150–200 °C. |
Fig. 3(a) shows the εr–T curves (∼25–450 °C) of the KNNS-xBLNZ ceramics. We have concentrated mainly on the variation of ferroelectric–paraelectric phase transition temperature (TC) versus BLNZ content. One can see that the TC decreases with increasing the BLNZ content. Fig. 3(b) plots the corresponding phase diagrams of the ceramics as a function of BLNZ content. One can see that the TC and TO–T values have a similar variation trend, that is, they reduce monotonously with increasing BLNZ content, but the TR–O rises. It is reported that both (Bi0.45La0.05Na0.5)2+ and Zr4+ can simultaneously drop TO–T and raise TR–O in KNN-based ceramics.3,20 Finally, the O symmetry gradually disappears with increasing of the BLNZ content, resulting in the appearance of multiphase coexistence (O–T for 0.020 ≤ x ≤ 0.030, R–O–T for 0.035 ≤ x ≤ 0.040, R–T for 0.040 < x < 0.060, and R for x = 0.060).
Fig. 4 shows the FE-SEM micrographs of the KNNS-xBLNZ ceramics. One can see that the grain size strongly depends on the BLNZ content in this ceramics. From Fig. 4(a), a relatively homogeneous grain size distribution is found in the ceramics with x = 0. The grain size of the ceramics (0.020 ≤ x ≤ 0.040) is increasing with introducing BLNZ content, and the inhomogeneous grains appear in the ceramics [see Fig. 4(b) and (c)]. It may be caused by the addition of Bi3+, which can improve the migration rate of the grain boundary, so as to accelerate the grain growth of the KNN-based ceramics due to the formation of liquid phase.25 Moreover, the small grains stuff the aperture of the large ones can lead to the formation of the dense microstructure in the ceramics. One can find that the grain size sharply decreases as BLNZ content increases to 0.060 [see Fig. 4(d)], which can be interpreted as the inhibited grain growth due to the aggregation at grain boundaries of both excessive Zr4+ and Bi3+.24,25 In addition, the fine-grain plays a key role in the flat dielectric peak in the ceramics of x = 0.060. The element mapping (K, Na, Nb, Sb, Bi, La, Zr, O) of KNNS-xBLNZ ceramics with x = 0.040 is shown in Fig. 5 shows. All chemical elements in the ceramics distribute uniformity.
Fig. 4 FE-SEM surface images of (1 − x)K0.44Na0.56Nb0.96Sb0.04O3-xBi0.45La0.05Na0.5ZrO3 ceramics with (a) x = 0, (b) x = 0.020, (c) x = 0.040, (d) x = 0.060. |
Fig. 5 Elemental (K, Na, Nb, Sb, Bi, La, Zr, and O) mapping on the surface of (1 − x)K0.44Na0.56Nb0.96Sb0.04O3-xBi0.45La0.05Na0.5ZrO3 ceramics with x = 0.040. |
Fig. 6 shows εr and tanδ values of KNNS-xBLNZ ceramics. One can find that the εr value is sensitive to the BLNZ content, that is, εr value rises sharply with increasing BLNZ content, getting a high value (2003–2376) in the ceramics with 0.035 ≤ x ≤ 0.050, which can be ascribed to the existence of multiphase boundary. The tanδ value almost fluctuates in the range of 0.035–0.044 in the ceramics due to the dense microstructure, as is shown in Fig. 6.
Fig. 6 Dielectric (εr, tanδ) properties of (1 − x)K0.44Na0.56Nb0.96Sb0.04O3-xBi0.45La0.05Na0.5ZrO3 ceramics. |
Fig. 7(a) plots the P–E loops of KNNS-xBLNZ ceramics. We can see that all ceramics exhibit typical ferroelectric loops in Fig. 7(a). The remnant polarization (Pr) and the coercive field (Ec) as a function of BLNZ content were shown in Fig. 7(b). As is known, the Pr value is the remained aligned dipoles after removing electric field, and the Ec value is the electric field required for domain switching. The Pr value slowly decreases with increasing BLNZ content to 0.045, and then reduces sharply with further increasing the BLNZ content [see Fig. 7(b)]. The Ec value almost fluctuates in the range of 7.8–9.5 kV cm−1 in the ceramics [See Fig. 7(b)]. The piezoelectric properties of KNNS-xBLNZ ceramics is plotted in Fig. 8(a). One can see that the d33 value firstly increases and then decreases as increasing the BLNZ content. The kp value firstly keeps stable with increasing the BLNZ content to 0.045, and then decreases sharply with further increasing the BLNZ content. Owing to the coexistence multiphase of R–O–T, an optimum piezoelectric (d33 ∼ 455 ± 10 pC N−1, kp ∼ 0.47 ± 0.02) properties were obtained in the ceramics with x = 0.040. It can be explained by the following two aspects: firstly, the multiphase boundaries have more equivalent spontaneous polarization vectors, indicating that it can provide more polarization vectors than the one with a pure phase structure. Secondly, the polarization anisotropic energy of the ceramics can be decreased in multiphase coexistence, which provides a shortcut for polarization rotation in anisotropically flattened free energy profile.26–28 As is known, the formula of d33 ∼ αεrPr appears to be well established in KNN-based ceramics,29,30 namely, the higher d33 value should be closely correlated with the higher εrPr value in the ceramics. To explore the relationship between d33 and εrPr, a diagram of d33 and εrPr vs. BLNZ content is shown in Fig. 8(b). One can see that there is a similar trend for the d33 and εrPr vs. BLNZ content. Therefore, the improvement of piezoelectric properties can be ascribed to the multiphase coexistence, dielectric and ferroelectric properties.
Bipolar electric field induced strain curves of KNNS-xBLNZ ceramics is shown in Fig. 9(a). A typical butterfly shape strain curves as a characteristic of the ferroelectric is exhibited in all ceramics. It was reported that the electric field-induced strain comes from intrinsic and extrinsic contributions. The intrinsic contributions mainly include the piezoelectric effects and electrostriction, and the extrinsic contributions are attributed to domain wall movement. In addition, the perfectly linear S–E response is the main contribution by the piezoelectric effect is, and the domain switching mainly produce “butterfly shape” of S–E loops.31 In this work, one can see that the “butterfly shape” of S–E loops is obtained in ceramics with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.050. It can be explained by the intrinsic effect which is aligned with the lattice response and the extrinsic effect which is aligned with domain switching; Moreover, the nearly linear response of strain is observed in the ceramics with x = 0.060, indicating that both the lattice response and domain wall movement contribute to the strain. Fig. 9(b) shows the strain and values vs. the compositions of BLNZ. The strain and value is similar variation with increasing BLNZ content, that is, the strain value firstly increases, and then decreases with increasing the BLNZ, obtaining the maximum value (strain ∼ 0.148%, ) at x = 0.040, which is benefit from the multiphase zone.
Fig. 9 Bipolar electric field induced strain of (1 − x)K0.44Na0.56Nb0.96Sb0.04O3-xBi0.45La0.05Na0.5ZrO3 ceramics. |
Fig. 10(a) represents the temperature-dependent P–E curves of the ceramics with x = 0.040, measured at f = 1 Hz and room temperature to 180 °C. One can find that all are statured P–E loops with increasing the measured temperature. The remnant polarization Pr changed slightly with high PrT/PrRT (PrT is the Pr value which measured at the temperature of T; PrRT is the Pr value which measured at room temperature) values (Pr100 °C/PrRT ∼ 89.6%, Pr180 °C/PrRT ∼ 73.2%) in the wide temperature range [see Fig. 10(b) and (c)]. It indicates that the switched polarization state along the direction of the external electric field was of little variation. As another important characteristic for ferroelectric property, the coercive field (Ec) which indicates the energy barrier between the equivalent states of the order parameter decreased on increasing temperature. Fig. 10(d) shows bipolar electric field induced strain curves vs. temperature of KNNS-xBLNZ ceramics, measured at room temperature to 180 °C. All the strain curves show the typical butterfly shape. Different from the hysteresis loops, which involved all domain switching, the bipolar strain curves only reflected the population of non-180° domain switching. For ferroelectrics, the non-180° polarization switching is always coupled to the lattice strain, an instability in polarization orientation (i.e., isotropy of polarization) will necessarily induce a softening in elastic modulus, and hence a high electrostrain. Therefore, low polarization anisotropy and elastic softening go hands in hands with each other, both contributing to a high electrostrain. As summarized in Fig. 10(b), the Sneg (the strain between minimum strain and strain under zero electric field) of the ceramics decreased. The changes in Sneg can be explained by the quantity of 90°/180° domain increased and tetragonality c/a decreased with increasing temperature approaching its TC. While the Spos (the strain between the maximum strain and the strain under zero electric field) showed little change with high ST/SRT (ST is the S value which measured at the temperature of T; SRT is the S value which measured at room temperature) values (S100 °C/SRT ∼ 92.6%, S180 °C/SRT ∼ 74.1%) in the wide temperature range [see Fig. 10(e) and (f)]. The excellent temperature stability is due to the high TC (∼266 °C) and relatively stable εr in this composition, which has been demonstrated elsewhere.35 Therefore, the Pr and strain values of KNNS-xBLNZ ceramics with x = 0.040 exhibit excellent temperature stability (Pr100 °C/PrRT ∼ 89.6%, Pr180 °C/PrRT ∼ 73.2%, S100 °C/SRT ∼ 92.6%, S180 °C/SRT ∼ 74.1%) in the wide temperature range.
Fig. 10 Ferroelectric loops and bipolar electric field induced strain of 0.96K0.44Na0.56Nb0.96Sb0.04O3-0.04Bi0.45La0.05Na0.5ZrO3 ceramics as a function of temperature from room temperature to 180 °C. |
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