Effect of Ba0.85Ca0.15Ti0.90Zr0.10O3 content on the microstructure and electrical properties of Bi0.51(Na0.82K0.18) 0.50TiO3 ceramics

(1-x)Bi-0.51(Na0.82K0.18)(0.50)TiO3-xBa(0.85)Ca(0.15)Ti(0.90)Zr(0.10)O(3) [(1-x)BNKT-xBCTZ] ceramics were prepared by the conventional solid-state method, and the effect of BCTZ content on their microstructure and electrical properties was investigated. A stable solid solution with a pure perovskite phase is formed between BNKT and BCTZ, and these ceramics have a coexistence of rhombohedral and tetragonal phases in the range of 0 <= x < 0.15. Their T-m and T-d values are strongly independent on the BCTZ content. Moreover, the sintering temperature strongly affects the ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of these ceramics with x = 0.02. These ceramics with x = 0.02 exhibit an optimum electrical behavior of d(33) similar to 205, k(p) similar to 0.25, P-r similar to 31.8 mu C/cm(2), and E-c similar to 19.1 kV/cm together with a high T-d value of similar to 91 degrees C when sintered at 1180 degrees C and poled at an optimum condition. As a result, the (1-x)BNKT-xBCTZ ceramic is a promising candidate material for lead-free piezoelectric ceramics. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.