Preparation and properties of (Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3-Ba(Ti,Zr)O3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

Lead-free piezoelectric ceramics based on bismuth sodium titanate (Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3 (BNT)-barium zirconate titanate Ba(Ti,Zr)O3 (BZT) were prepared by using a modified sintering process. The BNT-BZT ceramics sintered at 1180 °C for 3 h in air showed perovskite structure with high densities around 5.32-5.82 g/cm3 (~97% as relative density). Focusing on the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) of BNT-BZT system, the ferroelectric, dielectric and piezoelectric properties of the BNT-BZT ceramics were studied. In the case of (Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3-xBa(Ti0.942Zr0.058)O3 solid solution ceramics, the maximum of piezoelectric constant d33 (147 pC/N) was obtained for the ceramic with 9% BZT, which has a tetragonal phase near the MPB region. The BNT-BZT system was expected to be a new and promising candidate for lead-free piezoelectric ceramics.