Neodymium doping of KNNLT

The effect of stoichiometric trivalent Neodymium doping on (K0.46Na0.54)0.97Li0.03 Nb0.81Ta0.19 (KNNLT) is examined up to an amount of 1 mol% Nd. The sensitivity of the properties of KNNLT on the Nd-content is well pronounced. The main effect is the lowering of the orthorhombic-tetragonal phase transition temperatures accompanied by an increase of the piezoelectric response at room temperature. At low doping levels the densification is promoted while it is impeded at high doping levels. The relationship between microstructure and the sharpness of the orthorhombic-tetragonal phase transition is reviewed.