High piezoelectric d31 coefficient and high Tc in PMW-PNN-PZT ceramics sintered at low temperature

•Piezoelectric ceramics with low temperature sintering (≤920 °C) was developed.•We investigated the effects of two step calcination temperature on the PMW-PNN-PZT ceramics.•The d31 = 263pC/N, kp = 0.689 and Curie temperature (Tc) = 340 °C were obtained from the ceramics with 1st = 1130 °C, 2nd = 780 °C.

In this study, in order to develop piezoelectric ceramics with high piezoelectric d31 coefficient and high Curie temperature (Tc), Pb(Mg1/2W1/2)0.03(Ni1/3Nb2/3)0.09(Zr0.5Ti0.5)0.88O3 ceramics doped with sintering aids were fabricated using a columbite precursor method. The crystal structure, dielectric and piezoelectric properties were investigated as a function of calcination temperature. At the sintering temperature of 920 °C, the optimal values of density = 7.83(g/cm3), piezoelectric coefficient(d31) = 263pC/N, piezoelectric coefficient(d33) = 620pC/N, planar electromechanical coupling coefficient (kp) = 0.689, mechanical quality factor (Qm) = 100, dielectric constant(εr) = 2524 and Curie temperature (Tc) = 340 °C were obtained from the ceramics with the two step calcination temperature of 1st = 1130 °C, 2nd = 780 °C, respectively, for haptic actuator application.