• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.14-17
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• 2014

In this study, lead-free Piezoelectric $(Na_{0.47}K_{0.47}Sr_{0.03}Ca_{0.03})(Nb_{0.94}Ti_{0.06})O_3$-0.1 $MnO_2$ ceramics were fabricated using mixed oxide method and the effects of various sintering temperature on the structural and electrical properties were investigated. For the $(Na_{0.47}K_{0.47}Sr_{0.03}Ca_{0.03})(Nb_{0.94}Ti_{0.06})O_3$-0.1 $MnO_2$ (NKN-SCT-$MnO_2$) ceramics sintered at temperatures of $1,025{\sim}1,100^{\circ}C$. The results indicated that all specimens were perovskite single phase formation without any second phase. It has been shown that relative density is increased to increasing sintering temperature. When the sintered temperature at $1,075^{\circ}C$, highest sintered density and maximum value of $4.45g/cm^3$. Average grain size is increased to increasing sintering temperature. The electromechanical coupling factor, dielectric constant, dielectric loss, d33 and curie temperature at the sintering temperature $1,075^{\circ}C$ of NKN-SCT-$MnO_2$ specimens were 0.22, 511, 0.033, 103 and $380^{\circ}C$, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.530-534
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• 2017

The figures of merit in the on-resonance and off-resonance conditions ($FOM_{on}$ and $FOM_{off}$) for the piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH) were measured and compared in $[(K_{0.485}Na_{0.515})_{1-X}Li_X](Nb_{0.99}Ta_{0.01})O_3$ (x = 0.04 ~ 0.09) (KNLNT) ceramics with various Li contents. The crystal structure of CuO-doped KNLNT ceramics changes from orthorhombic to tetragonal around the Li fraction of 0.065. The stable temperature range for the tetragonal phase widens to both higher and lower temperatures as Li is substituted. The piezoelectric charge constant ($d_{33}$), electromechanical coupling factor ($k_p$) and mechanical quality factor ($Q_m$) have maximum values at the Li fraction between 0.055 and 0.065 where the phase boundary lies between the orthorhombic and tetragonal phases. Both $FOM_{on}$ and $FOM_{off}$ have peak values around the phase boundary but the peak compositions are not exactly coincided. The optimal Li fraction in the KNLNT ceramic for a PEH application was found to be between 0.055 and 0.065.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2010.03a
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• pp.5-5
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• 2010

$(Na_{0.5}K_{0.5})NbO_3$ (NKN) ceramic with 1.5 mol% CuO added (NKNC) was well sintered even at a low temperature of $900^{\circ}C$ with the addition of ZnO. Most of the ZnO reacted with the CuO and formed the liquid phase that assisted the densification of the specimens at $900^{\circ}C$. A few $Zn^{2+}$ ions entered the matrix of the specimens and increased the coercive field ($E_c$) and $Q_m$ values of the specimens. High-piezoelectric properties of $k_p=0.37$, $Q_m=755$, and ${\varepsilon}_3\;^T/{\varepsilon}_0=327$ were obtained from the NKNC ceramics containing 1.0 mol% ZnO sintered at $900^{\circ}C$ for 2 h.

• Journal of Ceramic Processing Research
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• v.13 no.spc2
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• pp.341-345
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• 2012

[Li0.055(K0.5Na0.5)0.945](Nb1-xTax)O3 (0.05 ≤ x ≤ 0.25) ceramics were prepared by the partial sol-gel (PSG) method to improve the microstructure homogeneity of Ta5+ ion and were compared to those prepared by the conventional mixed oxide (CMO) method. For the PSG method, Ta(OC2H5)5 was directly reacted with calcined [Li0.055(K0.5Na0.5)0.945]NbO3 powders and the specimens sintered at 1100 ℃ for 5 hrs showed a single phase with a perovskite structure. Compared to the specimens prepared by conventional mixed oxide powders, the relative ratio of tetragonal phase to orthorhombic phase of the sintered specimens prepared by Ta(OC2H5)5 was larger than that of the sintered specimens prepared by Ta2O5. The electromechanical coupling factor (kp), piezoelectric constant (d33) and dielectric constant (εr) of the sintered specimens were increased with Ta5+ content. These results could be attributed to the decrease of the orthorhombic-tetragonal polymorphic phase transition temperature (To-t), which could be evaluated by oxygen octahedral distortion. Strain of the sintered specimens prepared by the PSG method was higher than that of specimens prepared by the CMO method due to the increase of relative density. The effects of crystal structure on the strain characteristics of the specimens were also discussed.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.135-141
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• 2023

The volatilization of alkali ions in (K,Na)NbO₃ (KNN) ceramics was inhibited by doping them with alkaline earth metal ions. In addition, the grain growth behavior changed significantly as the sintering duration (t_s) increased. At 1,100 ℃, the volatilization of alkali ions in KNN ceramics was more suppressed when doped with alkaline earth metal ions with smaller ionic size. A Ca²⁺-doped KNN specimen with the least alkali ion volatilization exhibited a microstructure in which grain growth was completely suppressed, even under long-term sintering for t_s = 30 h. The grain growth in Sr²⁺-doped and Ba²⁺-doped KNN specimens was suppressed until t_s = 10 h. However, at t_s = 30 h, a heterogeneous microstructure with abnormal grains and small-sized matrix grains was observed. The size and number of abnormal grains and size distribution of matrix grains were considerably different between the Sr²⁺-doped and Ba²⁺-doped specimens. This microstructural diversity in KNN ceramics could be explained in terms of the crystal growth driving force required for two-dimensional nucleation, which was directly related to the number of vacancies in the material.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.343-349
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• 2020

NKN [(Na,K)NbO₃] is a candidate lead-free piezoelectric material to replace PZT [Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃]. A single crystal has excellent piezoelectric-properties and its properties are dependent of the crystal orientation direction. However, it is hard to fabricate a single crystal with stoichiometrically stable composition due to volatilization of sodium during the growth process. To solve this problem, a solid solution composition is designed (Na,K)NbO₃-Ba(Cu,Nb)O₃ and solid state grain growth is studied for a sizable single crystal. Ceramic powders of (Na,K)NbO₃-M(Cu,Nb)O₃ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) are synthesized and grain growth behavior is investigated for different temperatures and times. Average normal grain sizes of individual specimens, which are heat-treated at 1,125 ℃ for 10 h, are 6.9, 2.8, and 1.6 ㎛ for M = Ca, Sr, and Ba, respectively. Depending on M, the distortion of NKN structure can be altered. XRD results show that (NKN-CaCuN: shrunken orthorhombic; NKN-SrCuN: orthorhombic; NKN-BaCuN: cubic). For the sample heat-treated at 1,125 ℃ for 10 h, the maximum grain sizes of individual specimens are measured as 40, 5, and 4,000 ㎛ for M = Ca, Sr, and Ba, respectively. This abnormal grain size is related to the partial melting temperature (NKN-CaCuN: 960 ℃; NKN-SrCuN: 971 ℃; NKN-BaCuN: 945 ℃).

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.283-286
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• 2012

(1-X)$(Na_{0.5}K_{0.5})NbO_3-XK_{5.4}Cu_{1.3}Ta_{10}O_{29}$ (NKN-KCT) lead-free piezoelectric ceramics have been synthesized by the conventional solid state sintering method, and their sinterability and piezoelectric properties were investigated. Typically, this material is sintered between 1,025 and $1,100^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours to achieve the required densification. Crystalline structures and Microstructures were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. The density, dielectric constant (${\varepsilon}_r$), piezoelectric constant $d_{33}$, electromechanical coupling factor $k_p$ and mechanical quality factor $Q_m$ value of the NKN ceramics depended upon the KCT content and the sintering temperature. In particular, the KCT addition to NKN greatly improved the mechanical quality factor $Q_m$ value. The ceramic with X = 1.0 mol% sintered at $1,050^{\circ}C$ exhibited optimum properties (${\varepsilon}_r$=246, $d_{33}$=95, $k_p$=0.38 and $Q_m$=1,826). These results indicate that the ceramic is a promising candidate material for applications in lead free piezoelectric transformer and filter materials.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.692-701
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• 2012

Recently, many lead-free piezoelectric materials have been investigated for the replacement of existing Pb-based piezoelectric ceramics because of globally increasing environmental interest. There has been remarkable improvement in piezoelectric properties of some lead-free ceramics such as $(Bi,Na)TiO_3-(Bi,K)TiO_3-BaTiO_3$, $(Na,K)NbO_3-LiSbO_3$, and so on. However, no one still has comparable piezoelectric properties to lead-based materials. Therefore, new lead-free piezoelectric ceramics are required. $BiFeO_3$ has a rhombohedrally distorted perovskite structure at room temperature and a very high Curie temperature ($T_C$= 1,100 K). And a very large electric polarization of 50 ~ 60 ${\mu}C/cm^2$ has been reported both in epitaxial thin film and single crystal $BiFeO_3$. Therefore, a high piezoelectric effect is expected also in a $BiFeO_3$ ceramics. The recent research activities on $BiFeO_3$ or $BiFeO_3$-based solid solutions are reviewed in this article.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.251-251
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• 2007

A new type of a lead-free positive temperature coefficient of resistivity(PTCR) material. based on $(Bi_{1/2}Na_{1/2})TiO_3\;-\;BaTiO_3$ solid solution ceramics has been developed. The effect of $Nb_O_5$ and $Y_2O_3$ content on the electrical properties and the microstructure of (1-x) $(Bi_{1/2}Na_{1/2})TiO_3\;-\;x\;BaTiO_3$ (BNBT) ceramics made using a conventional mixed oxide process has been studied. The Curie Temperature was obviously increased with the increasing of $(B_{0.5}Na_{0.5})TiO_3$ content. The Y-doped BNBT ceramics(x=0.02) display low resistivity values of $10^2-10^3$ ohm*cm at room temperature and the Curie Temperature of $Tc=155^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.408-414
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• 2021

This study analyzes the phase transition behavior and electrical properties of lead-free (1-x)K_0.5Na_0.5NbO₃-xBaZrO₃ (KNN-100xBZ) piezoelectric ceramics. The stabilized crystal structures in BaZrO₃-modified KNN ceramics is clarified to be pseudocubic. The polymorphic phase transition from the orthorhombic to pseudocubic phases can be observed with KNN-6BZ ceramics considering the optimized piezoelectric constant (d₃₃). Electromechanical strain behaviors are discussed. Accordingly, the enhancement of strain value at x = 0.08 (composition) may originate from the coexistence of ferroelectric domains and polar nanoregions. A schematic of domains for KNN, KNN-8BZ, and KNN-15BZ ceramics has been proposed to describe the relationship between the stabilized relaxor and changes in electrical properties.