Effects of Mn-Doping on the Piezoelectric and Ferroelectric Properties of (Na_0.8K_0.2)_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃ Ceramics

Abstract

Lead-free piezoelectric ceramics of (Na0.8K0.2)0.5Bi0.5TiO3+x wt.% Mn (abbreviated as NBKT-x% Mn, x=0~0.5) were synthesized by solid-state reaction. The grain growth of the ceramics was restrained by Mn-doping at a certain extent. The mechanical quality factor Qm increases and the dielectric loss tanδ decreases with the increase of Mn-doping. Best piezoelectric properties were obtained for the composition of NKBT-0.2%Mn: d33=158 pC·N-1, tanδ=2.9% at 1 kHz, Qm=110 and kp=30%. The P-E loops show that remnant polarization Pr and coercive field Ec decrease slightly with the amount of the Mn2+ increasing up to 0.2wt.% and then increase as the content of Mn2+ increases further. NKBT-0.5wt. % Mn exhibits strong ferroelectricity with remnant polarization Pr = 38μC/cm2.