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Synthesis, phase confirmation and electrical properties of (1 − x)KNNS−xBNZSH lead-free ceramics

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Abstract

In the present work, lead-free piezoelectric ceramics (Rx)(K0.5Na0.5)(Nb0.96Sb0.04O3)−x(Bi0.5Na0.5)(Zr0.8Sn0.1Hf0.1)O3 [abb. as (Rx)KNNS−xBNZSH, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.04] were prepared via solid-state sintering technique. The thermal behavior of mixed powders has been investigated for x = 0, 0.02, and 0.04 using TGA-DSC analysis to estimate the calcination temperature. The structural, morphological, dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties are analyzed through the appropriate characterization techniques. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns demonstrate a pure perovskite phase structure for all the sintered samples. Further, the coexistence of rhombohedral to orthorhombic (R-O) phase is observed in ceramic sample with x = 0.02. The morphology of all the sintered samples exhibits an inhomogeneous, dense microstructure with the rectangular grain, while for x = 0.02, a relatively homogeneous distribution of grains is observed. BNZSH do** decreases the average grain size from 2.22 to 0.33 μm for x = 0 to x = 0.04, respectively. Owing to the presence of multiple-phase coexistence as well as the improved microstructure and enhanced dielectric properties (dielectric constant εr = 1080, εmax = 5301; Curie temperature - TC ~ 317 °C; dielectric loss - tanδ ~ 6%) the ceramics with x = 0.02 has been found to have a large piezoelectric coefficient (d33) of ~180 pC/N, remnant polarization (Pr) ~ 16.7 µC/cm2 and coercive field (Ec) ~ 10.7 kV/cm. We believe it will expand the range of applications for KNN-based ceramics.

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Acknowledgements

The authors want to express their sincere gratitude to Prof. Ashish Agarwal and Prof. (Mrs.) Sujata Sanghi, Department of Physics, GJUS&T Hisar – Haryana (India) for their kind help during TGA/DSC measurements. The authors, A. Kumar and S. Kumari want to acknowledge the CSIR-New Delhi for providing fellowship as CSIR-SRF.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, 136119, India

    Amit Kumar, Sapna Kumari & Anil Arya

  2. Department of Physics, Institute of Integrated and Honors Studies (IIHS), Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, 136119, India

    Amit Kumar, Sapna Kumari & V. Kumar

  3. CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi, 110012, India

    Prashant Kumar, Vikas N. Thakur & Ashok Kumar

  4. Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, 201002, India

    Prashant Kumar, Vikas N. Thakur & Ashok Kumar

  5. Research & Development Division, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, 248007, India

    Vikas N. Thakur

  6. Department of Physics, J.C Bose University of Science & Technology, YMCA, Faridabad, 121006, India

    P. K. Goyal

  7. Department of Physics, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 151001, India

    Anil Arya & A. L. Sharma

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  1. Amit Kumar
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Contributions

AK: Conceptualization, Methodology, Data curation, Writing-original draft, Visualization. SK: Conceptualization, Methodology, Data curation, Formal analysis. VK: Conceptualization, Investigation, Formal analysis, Visualization, Resources, Supervision, Writing - review & editing. PK: Data curation, Resources, Formal analysis, Writing - review & editing. VNT: Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Writing - review & editing. AK: Conceptualization, Writing - review & editing, Resources. PKG: Conceptualization, Investigation, Formal analysis, Writing - review & editing. AA: Methodology, Investigation, Formal analysis, Writing - review & editing. ALS: Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, Resources, Writing-review & editing.

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Correspondence to V. Kumar.

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Kumar, A., Kumari, S., Kumar, V. et al. Synthesis, phase confirmation and electrical properties of (1 − x)KNNS−xBNZSH lead-free ceramics. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 33, 6240–6252 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-022-07798-6

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