• The Korean Journal of Ceramics
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.276-279
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• 2000

Ferroelectric properties of $SrBi_2TaNbO_9$ (SBTN) thin films were changed by the amount of Bi content in SBTN. We suggested that the addition of excess Bi into the films could be accomplished by heat-treating $SBTN/Bi_2O_3/SBTN$ heterostructure fabricated by r.f. magnetron sputtering method. Excess Bi composition was controlled by the thickness of the sandwiched $Bi_2O_3$ from 0 to $400\;\AA$. When the SBTN thin films were inserted by $400\;{\AA}\;Bi_2O_3$ layer, $Bi_2Pt$ phase was formed as a second phase in SBTN films, resulting in poor ferroelectric properties. The onset temperature for hysteresis loop can be reduced by heat treating $SBTN/Bi_2O_3/SBTN$ heterostructure. The films with $SBTN/Bi_2O_3(100\;{\AA})/SBTN$ hetero-structure followed by annealing at $650^{\circ}C$ for 30 min show 2Pr and Ec of $5.66\;{\mu}C/\textrm{cm}^2$ and 54 kV/cm, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.407-411
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• 2022

Bulk-sized PbTiO₃ (PT), which is widely known as a high-performance ferroelectric oxide but cannot be fabricated into a monolithic ceramic due to its high c/a ratio, was successfully prepared with a high tetragonality by partially substituting Ni ions for Pb ions using a solid-state reaction method. We found that Ni-doped PT was well-fabricated as a bulk monolith with a significant c/a ratio of ~1.06. X-ray diffraction on as-sintered and crushed samples revealed that NiTiO₃ secondary phase was present at the doping level of more than 2 at.%. Scanning electron microscopic study showed that NiTiO₃ secondary phase grew on the surface of PT specimens regardless of the doping level possibly due to the evaporation of Pb during sintering. We demonstrated that an unconventional introduction of Ni ions into A-site plays a key role on the fabrication of bulk PT, though how Ni ion functions should be studied further. We expect that this study contributes to a further development of displacive ferroelectric oxides with a high c/a ratio.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.431-438
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• 2022

In functional materials, in situ experimental techniques as a function of external stimulus (e.g., electric field, magnetic field, light, etc.) or changes in ambient environments (e.g., temperature, humidity, pressure, etc.) are highly essential for analyzing how the physical properties of target materials are activated/evolved by the given stimulation. In particular, in situ electric-field-dependent X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements have been extensively utilized for understanding the underlying mechanisms of the emerging electromechanical responses to external electric field in various ferroelectric, piezoelectric, and electrostrictive materials. This tutorial article briefly introduces basic principles/key concepts of in situ electric-field-dependent XRD analysis using a lab-scale XRD machine. We anticipate that the in situ XRD method provides a practical tool to systematically identify/monitor a structural modification of various electromechanical materials driven by applying an external electric field.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.141-147
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• 2024

The measurement of strain under an electric field has been widely employed to comprehend the fundamental principles of electro-mechanical responses in ferroelectric, piezoelectric, and electrostrictive materials. In particular, understanding the strain properties of piezoelectric materials in response to electrical stimulation is crucial for researching and developing components such as piezoelectric actuators, acoustic devices, and ultrasonic generators. This tutorial paper introduces the components and operational principles of the linear variable differential transducer (LVDT), a widely used displacement measurement device in various industries. Additionally, we present the configuration of an experimental setup using LVDT to measure the strain characteristics of ferroelectric, piezoelectric, or electrostrictive materials under the application of an electric field. This paper includes simple measurement results and analyses obtained through the LVDT experimental setup, providing valuable information on research methods for the electro-mechanical interactions of various materials.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.533-540
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• 2024

In line with the development of electronic devices and technologies, the demand for improving ferroelectric materials' performance is increasing. Since K_0.5Na_0.5NbO₃ (KNN), an eco-friendly ferroelectric material that does not use lead and has a high Curie temperature, it is attracting attention to its usability as a high-temperature dielectric, and various studies are being conducted to increase performance. In a KNN having a perovskite structure, there was a simulation result that the KNN has higher spontaneous polarization when the A-site in which sodium ions exist is replaced with lithium ions. If the simulation results can be proven experimentally, the application range of KNN-based ferroelectric materials will increase. To this end, we tried to manufacture a K_1-xLi_xNbO₃ (KLN) with high electrical characteristics by fabricating niobium-deficient and potassium-excessive compositions, which attempt was made to solve the stoichiometry problem by volatilization and suppress secondary phases. If KLN's secondary phase suppression and relative permittivity improvement are successful, it will contribute to meeting the demand for developing electronic devices.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.237-242
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• 2015

$Bi_{0.5}(Na_{0.78}K_{0.22})_{0.5}TiO_3$ (BNKT) lead-free piezoelectric ceramics modified by $LaMnO_3$ (LM) were fabricated by conventional solid-state method. The crystal structure and the morphology of the lead free ceramics were analyzed by XRD (X-ray diffraction) and FE-SEM (Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy). The LM modified BNKT ceramics have a phase transition from ferroelectric tetragonal to non-polar pseudo-cubic. Despite decreases in the remnant polarization ($P_r$) and coercive field ($E_c$) in the P-E hysteresis loops, the electric-field induced strain properties were significantly enhanced by the LM modification. The highest value of $S_{max}/E_{max}=412pm/V$ at an applied electric field of 5 kV/mm was found in BNKT-0.01LM ceramic.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.667-672
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• 1998

Pyroelectric properties of $Pb(Mg_{1/3}Nb_{2/3})O_3-PbTiO_3$ ceramics prepared by the columbite precursor method have been investigated as a function of the sintering temperature in the range of $1000^{\circ}C$ to $1250^{\circ}C$. The $Pb(Mg_{1/3}Nb_{2/3})O_3-PbTiO_3$ ceramics show typical relaxor ferroelectric behavior. The optimum condition for obtaining samples with high densities and improved pyroelectric properties occur at a sintering temperature of $1250^{\circ}C$ and sintering times of 2 hours. The $Pb(Mg_{1/3}Nb_{2/3}O_3-PbTiO_3$ ceramics show the possibility for pyroelectric sensors with pyrostat.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.372-376
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• 2014

We investigated the effect of excess CuO on the sintering behavior, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties of lead-free $Bi_{0.5}(Na_{0.82}K_{0.18})_{0.5}TiO_3$ (BNKT) ceramics. The addition of excess CuO was found to greatly contribute to the densification and grain growth, however, excess CuO over 3 mol% was precipitated at grain boundaries after sintering. BNKT with 1~2 mol% CuO in excess sintered at $975^{\circ}C$ showed piezoelectric properties comparable to those of unmodified BNKT sintered at $1,175^{\circ}C$. These results seem meaningful for its application to low cost multilayer actuators (MLAs) because low firing ceramics make it possible to apply less expensive base metals to the inner electrode of MLAs.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.337-343
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• 2020

This study investigated the low temperature sintering with various templates of Bi-based lead-free piezoelectric ceramics. The effects of using CuO-coated Na_0.5Bi_4.5Ti₄O₁₅ templates on the sintering behavior as well as the dielectric, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties of Bi_1/2(Na_0.78K_0.22)_1/2TiO₃ (BNKT) ceramics have been examined. In comparison with the specimens sintered with the Na_0.5Bi_4.5Ti₄O₁₅ templates without CuO coating, those sintered with the CuO-coated Na_0.5Bi_4.5Ti₄O₁₅ templates showed larger template sizes as well as a larger electric field induced strain (S_max/E_max) of 422 pm/V after sintering at temperatures as low as 975℃. These results are promising for low-cost multilayer ceramic actuator applications.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.292-296
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• 2014

We investigated the effect of Ta doping on the dielectric and piezoelectric properties of lead-free $(K_{0.5}Na_{0.5})NbO_3$ ceramics prepared using a conventional ceramic processing. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that Ta was perfectly substituted into Nb-sites in the range of 0 to 20 at%. As Ta content in the KNN increased, the sinterability of KNN ceramics was significantly degraded while the Ta doping enhanced the piezoelectric constant $d_{33}$, planar mode piezoelectric coupling coefficient ($k_p$), and electromechanical quality factor ($Q_m$). The highest values for $d_{33}$, $k_p$, and $Q_m$ was found to be 156 pC/N, 0.37, and 155, respectively.