LAUSR

AbstractIn this work, lead-free 0.965Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3–0.035BaTiO3 (BNT–BT) piezoelectric ceramics were synthesized by a sol–gel process. X-ray diffraction pattern of the BNT–BT samples revealed that powder calcined at 600 °C, exhibit a pure perovskite structure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to find the surface morphology and grain size of the investigated ceramics. At an optimized sintering temperature of 1150 °C, well-saturated ferroelectric (P–E) hysteresis loops with high remnant polarization (Pr = 34.8 µC/cm2) and low corrosive field (Ec = 23 kV/cm) were obtained. Electric field-induced strain of 0.137% with a dynamic piezoelectric coefficient (d33* = 196 pm/V) was observed under 75 kV/cm drawing field. In addition, high static piezoelectric constant (d33 = 138 pC/N) was recorded for the sample sintered at 1150 °C. This value of d33 is comparable to that of BNT-based bulk piezoelectric ceramics. BNT–BT nano-particles were prepared by using the acetic-acid sol–gel process, calcined at 600 °C and sintered at 1150 °C to get the optimum processing temperature. Well saturated and square type P–E hysteresis loops were obtanied with high remnant polarization (Pr = 34.8 µC/cm2) equivalent to the BNT-bulk ceramcis which were prepared through the conventional solid state reaction method [1, 2]. The high static piezoelectric constant 138 pC/N was obtained which is comparable to the BNT-based bulk ceramics [3]HighlightsIn this work, lead-free 0.965Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3–0.035BaTiO3 (BNT-BT) piezoelectric ceramics were synthesized by a sol-gel process.X-ray diffraction pattern of the BNT-BT samples revealed that powder calcined at 600 °C, exhibit a pure perovskite structure.Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to find the surface morphology and grain size of the investigated ceramics. At an optimized sintering temperature of 1150 °C, well saturated ferroelectric (P–E) hysteresis loops with high remnant polarization (Pr = 34.8 μC/cm2) and low corrosive field (Ec = 23 kV/cm) were obtained.Electric field-induced strain of 0.137% with a dynamic piezoelectric coefficient (d33* = 196 pm/V) was observed under 75 kV/cm drawing field.In addition, high static piezoelectric constant (d33 = 138 pC/N) was recorded for the sample sintered at 1150 °C.This value of d33 is comparable to that of BNT-based bulk piezoelectric ceramics.