Piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties of 0.96(Na,K)(Nb0.9Ta0.1)O3-0.04LiSbO3 ceramics synthesized by molten salt method

0.96(Na,K)(Nb0.9Ta0.1)O3-0.04LiSbO3 powders in the orthorhombic phase were synthesized in the molten salt KCl at a low temperature 800 °C. It was revealed that K+ in the molten salt tended to substitute Na+ in the A-sites and the final product 0.96(Na0.29K0.71)(Nb0.9Ta0.1)O3-0.04LiSbO3 was synthesized from the nominal composition 0.96(Na0.5K0.5)(Nb0.9Ta0.1)O3-0.04LiSbO3. The dense ceramics under pressureless were obtained by sintering in the air. The ceramics exhibited high piezoelectric constant d33 of 239 pC/N and good remnant polarization Pr of 30.79 μC/cm2 with coercive electric field Ec of 2.01 kV/mm. And leakage current was reduced by muffling the ceramics with the as-prepared powders during the sintering process.