Особенности поляризации пьезоэлектрической керамики на основе ниобата натрия

Comparative studies of the pyroelectric properties and structural features of sodium niobate and sodium-potassium niobate ceramics obtained under different technological conditions for the synthesis of sodium niobate have been carried out. X-ray phase analysis revealed the existence of an additional phase with the chemical formula NaNb10O18 in sodium niobate ceramic samples that do not exhibit ferroelectric properties. It is shown that the temperature conditions for the synthesis of the sodium niobate material determine the nature of the macroscopic polarization of the samples of both pure sodium niobate and sodium-potassium niobate.

Hybrid Atmosphere Processing of Lead-Free Piezoelectric Sodium Potassium Niobate-Based Ceramics

K0.5Na0.5NbO3-based ceramics, a promising group of lead-free piezoelectrics, are challenging to sinter dense while avoiding alkali evaporation. This work explores hybrid atmosphere processing, a new approach where reducing atmospheres is used during heating to avoid coarsening from alkali carbonates and hydroxides, and oxidizing atmospheres is used during sintering to avoid alkali evaporation. Discs of Li0.06(K0.52Na0.48)0.94Nb0.71Ta0.29O3 with 0.25 mol% Mn (KNNLTM) were sintered in air, N2, 9% H2 in N2, or 9% H2 in N2 during heating and air during sintering (hybrid atmosphere processing). The highest density was obtained by sintering in 9% H2 in N2, but resulted in high alkali loss and decomposition of the surface, followed by low piezoelectric response. However, with the hybrid H2/air processing it was possible to both avoid surface decomposition and leakage currently associated with alkali evaporation during sintering in H2, and to obtain a denser, more phase-pure and small-grained KNNLTM ceramic with a higher piezoelectric response than obtained by sintering in air or N2.