Effects of nano-sized BiFeO addition on the properties of high piezoelectric response (1 − x)BiNaTiO- xBiKTiO ceramics.

The role of BiFeO addition on the crystal structure, microstructure, and the electrical and electromechanical properties of high-sensitivity BiNaTiO-BiKTiO ferroelectric ceramics for compositions at the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) is investigated. A perovskite solid solution from nano-sized BiFeO and BiNaTiO-BiKTiO powders is obtained, in which the persistence of a MPB in the ternary system is demonstrated. The structural characterization, along with the electrical properties, indicates the stabilization of intermediate domain configurations, associated with a decrease of the temperature for the development of the ferroelectric long-range order. As a consequence, high phase-change electromechanical response is found for certain small BiFeO additions. This result is very promising for the processing of textured ceramics taking advantage of the decomposition behaviour of BiFeO. Ceramic texturing is demonstrated, a key technology for developing lead-free piezoelectrics that can replace Pb(Zr,Ti)O. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]