Rhombohedral–tetragonal phase boundary and electrical properties of new K0.48Na0.52Nb0.98Sb0.02O3-Bi0.5Na0.5ZrO3 lead-free piezoceramics

(1 − x)K0.48Na0.52Nb0.98Sb0.02O3-xBi0.5Na0.5ZrO3 lead-free piezoceramics were prepared by using the conventional solid-state method. In this material system, (Bi0.5Na0.5)2+ and Zr4+ can decrease the orthorhombic-tetragonal phase temperature and increase the rhombohedral–orthorhombic phase temperature. The rhombohedral–tetragonal phase coexistence is identified in the ceramics with the compositional range of 0.03 < x < 0.05. The ceramic with x = 0.04 has an enhanced piezoelectric behaviour of d33 ∼ 257 pC N−1 and kp ∼ 41%, which is three times higher than that of a pure KNN ceramic. In addition, the enhanced stability of piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties is also observed in such a ceramic. These results show that such a new lead-free material system is a promising candidate for piezoelectric devices. (paper)