• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.210-214
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• 2016

We investigated the sintering behavior and piezoelectric properties of lead-free $(K_{0.5}Na_{0.5})NbO_3$ ceramics co-doped with excess 0.01 mol ZnO and x mol $MnO_2$, where x was varied from 0 to 0.03. Excess $MnO_2$ addition was found to retard the grain growth and densification during sintering. However, 0.005 mol $MnO_2$ addition improved the piezoelectric properties of 0.01 mol ZnO added $(K_{0.5}Na_{0.5})NbO_3$ ceramics. The planar mode piezoelectric coupling coefficient, electromechanical quality factor, and piezoelectric constant $d_{33}$ of 0.01 mol ZnO and 0.005 mol $MnO_2$ added specimen were 0.40, 304, and 214 pC/N, respectively.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.110-117
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• 2022

The grain growth behavior in the (1-x)K_0.5Na_0.5NbO₃-xCaZrO₃ (KNNCZ-x) system is studied as a function of the amount of CZ and grain shape. The (1-x)K_0.5Na_0.5NbO₃-xCaZrO₃ (KNNCZ-x) powders are synthesized using a conventional solid-state reaction method. A single orthorhombic phase is observed at x = 0 - 0.03. However, rhombohedral and orthorhombic phases are observed at x = 0.05. The grain growth behavior changes from abnormal grain growth to the suppression of grain growth as the amount of CaZrO₃ (CZ) increases. With increasing CZ content, grains become more faceted, and the step-free energy increases. Therefore, the critical growth driving force increases. The grain size distribution broadens with increasing sintering time in KNNCZ-0.05. As a result, some large grains with a driving force larger than the critical driving force for growth exhibit abnormal grain growth behavior during sintering. Therefore, CZ changes the grain growth behavior and microstructure of KNN. Grain growth at the faceted interface of the KNNCZ system occurs via two-dimensional nucleation and growth.