Large piezoelectric properties in KNN-based lead-free single crystals grown by a seed-free solid-state crystal growth method

We report lead-free single crystals with a nominal formula of (K0.45Na0.55)(0.96)Li0.04NbO3 grown using a simple low-cost seed-free solid-state crystal growth method (SFSSCG). The crystals thus prepared can reach maximum dimensions of 6mm x 5mm x 2mm and exhibit a large piezoelectric coefficient d(33) of 689 pC/N. Moreover, the effective piezoelectric coefficient d(33)*, obtained under a unipolar electric field of 30 kV/ cm, can reach 967 pm/ V. The large piezoelectric response plus the high Curie temperature (T-C) of 432 degrees C indicate that SFSSCG is an effective approach to synthesize high-performance lead-free piezoelectric single crystals. Published by AIP Publishing.