Enhanced dielectric and piezoelectric properties in LiTaO3-doped lead-free (K,Na)NbO3 ceramics by optimizing sintering temperature

This paper reports the enhanced piezoelectric properties in [(Na0.535K0.480)0.966Li0.058] (Nb0.90Ta0.10)O3 ceramics sintered at 1075–1120 °C. Because of morphotropic phase boundary-like behavior achieved by altering the sintering temperature from 1090 to 1105 °C, the piezoelectric coefficient is enhanced to 268 pC/N, the highest value reported for the LiTaO3-doped (Na,K)NbO3 ceramics. The corresponding Curie temperature and remanent polarization reached 445 °C and 11.5 μC cm−2, respectively.