(1-x)Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-xBaTiO3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics for energy-harvesting applications

Lead-free (1 - x)Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-xBaTiO(3) piezoelectric ceramics were investigated for energy-harvesting applications. In order to enhance the piezoelectric properties, the BaTiO3 content was varied at 0 <= x <= 0.1. Furthermore, the sintering temperature was optimized to enhance the piezoelectric properties and output energies. The piezoelectric charge coefficient was enhanced from 70 to 164 pC/N by introducing BaTiO3 and optimizing the sintering temperature to 1175 degrees C. The (1 - x)Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-xBaTiO(3) lead-free piezoelectric ceramics exhibited a piezoelectric voltage coefficient of 47.03 x 10(-3) V m/N at x=0.04, which is slightly higher than the piezoelectric voltage coefficient of lead-based piezoelectric ceramics. The generated output voltage and output power were 8.95 V and 18 nW, respectively, for 0.94Bi(0.5)Na(0.5)TiO(3)-0.06BaTiO(3) ceramics sintered at 1175 degrees C. The results suggest that lead-free (1 -x)Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-xBaTiO(3) piezoelectric ceramics are good candidates for energy-harvesting applications. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.