Fabrication of textured KNNT ceramics by reactive template grain growth using NN templates

• High textured quality KNNT ceramics (Lotgering factor ∼ 80%).
• High piezoelectric constant d33 = 390 pC/N.
• High coupling factor 0.60 for textured ceramics.
• High dielectric constant.

Lead-free non-stoichiometric (K0.470Na0.545)(Nb0.55Ta0.45)O3 (KNNT) textured ceramics were prepared by a reactive templated grain growth method using NaNbO3 (NN) templates. The Plate-like NaNbO3 (NN) templates were synthesized from bismuth layer-structured Bi2.5Na3.5Nb5O18 (BNN) particles by a topochemical microcrystal conversion (TMC) method. Using 5 wt% of NN templates, textured KNNT ceramics were fabricated, and their crystal structure, microstructure, dielectric and piezoelectric properties were compared with non-textured KNNT ceramics prepared by a conventional solid state reaction method. The textured KNNT ceramics exhibited high grain orientation and high dielectric constant. In addition, piezoelectric properties of textured KNNT ceramics were improved, giving a high piezoelectric coefficient d33 = 390 pC/N and piezoelectric coupling coefficient kp = 0.60.