Abstract
The effect of $MnO_{2}$ as a sintering additive on the microstructures and the piezoelectric properties, especially mechanical quality factor, of 0.05 Pb$(Sb_{0.5}Nb_{0.5})O_{3}$-0.95 Pb$(Zr_{0.52}Ti_{0.48})O_{3}$ (PSN-PZT) piezoelectric ceramics was investigated. The samples were sintered at $1250^{\circ}C$ for 2 h. The crystal structure and surface morphology of the sample were examined using XRD and FE-SEM, respectively. A study on the influence of $MnO_{2}$ additives on the dielectric and piezoelectric properties showed that the $MnO_{2}$-added PSN-PZT system exhibited a high mechanical quality factor and well-situated piezoelectric properties. The optimized results of $d_{33}$ (319 pC/N), $k_{p}$ (55 %), and $Q_{m}$ (751.24) were obtained at 0.2 wt% $MnO_{2}$ added PSN-PZT piezoelectrics.