AUTHOR=Quan Yi , Wang Lingyan , Ren Wei , Zhao Jinyan , Zhuang Jian , Zheng Kun , Wang Zhe , Karaki Tomoaki , Jiang Zhishui , Wen Li 

TITLE=Enhanced Electrical Properties of Lead-Free Piezoelectric KNLN-BZ-BNT Ceramics With the Modification of Sm3+ Ions

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Materials

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/materials/articles/10.3389/fmats.2021.695330

DOI=10.3389/fmats.2021.695330

ISSN=2296-8016

ABSTRACT=<p>Environment-friendly lead-free piezoelectric ceramics with great properties and high thermal stability are desired in the industry. In this work, the Sm<sup>3+</sup>-modified lead-free 0.915(K<sub>0.45</sub>Na<sub>0.5</sub>Li<sub>0.05</sub>)NbO<sub>3</sub>–0.075BaZrO<sub>3</sub>–0.01(Bi<sub>0.5</sub>Na<sub>0.5</sub>)TiO<sub>3</sub> (KNLN-BZ-BNT) ceramics are prepared. The piezoelectric properties are improved with the introduction of Sm<sup>3+</sup>, and the optimal properties (<italic>d</italic><sub>33</sub> = 325 pC/N and <italic>d</italic><sub>33</sub>* = 384 pm/V) are achieved in the ceramic modified with 0.3 mol% Sm<sup>3+</sup> ions. Meanwhile, this sample shows good thermal stability such that the values of <italic>d</italic><sub>33</sub>* decreased less than 20% when the temperature raised from 30 to 180<sup>o</sup>C. These results show the Sm<sup>3+</sup>-modified KNLN-BZ-BNT ceramics are good for further applications even under high temperature.</p>