Phase transitional behavior and piezoelectric properties of (Na0.5K0.5)NbO3–LiNbO3 ceramics

Lead-free piezoelectric ceramics (1−x)(Na0.5K0.5)NbO3–xLiNbO3 {[Lix(Na0.5K0.5)1−x]NbO3} (x=0.04–0.20) have been synthesized by an ordinary sintering technique. The materials with perovskite structure is orthorhombic phase at x⩽0.05 and becomes tetragonal phase at x⩾0.07, a phase K3Li2Nb5O15 with tetragonal tungsten bronze structure begins to appear at x=0.08 and becomes dominant with increasing the content of LiNbO3. A morphotropic phase boundary between orthorhombic and tetragonal phases is found in the composition range 0.05<x<0.07. Analogous to Pb(Zr,Ti)O3, the piezoelectric and electromechanical properties are enhanced for compositions near the morphotropic phase boundary. Piezoelectric…