Structural, nanomechanical, and piezoelectric properties of lead-free orthorhombic and tetragonal K0.35Na 0.65Nb0.97Sb0.03O3 piezo-ceramics

• Published in: Physica. B, Condensed matter Condensed matter, 2023-11, Vol.669, p.415341, Article 415341
• Main Authors: Leal-Perez, J.E., Florez-Valenzuela, J., Almaral-Sanchez, J.L., Cortez-Valadez, M., Bórquez-Mendivil, A., Herrera-Basurto, R., Auciello, O., Hurtado-Macias, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: EELS; Lead-free ferroelectric ceramic; Piezoelectricity; Rietveld analysis; Thermodiffraction analysis
• ISSN: 0921-4526; 1873-2135
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physb.2023.415341

Materials based on ferroelectric ceramics exhibit piezoelectric, electro-optical, acousto-optical, and nonlinear optical coefficient properties. The synthesis of the lead-free ceramic was carried out by mechanical grinding. This article aims to accurately determine the tetragonal and orthorhombic phases of a lead-free ferroelectric ceramic K0.35Na0.65Nb0.97Sb0.03O3. As well as its structural analysis by Rietveld analysis, the chemical composition of the items contained VEELS and CEELS. The characteristic peak associated with perovskite structures is observed at 950 °C. Showing behavior different for each temperature, with an apparent orthorhombic structure at 950 °C and an apparent mixture of orthorhombic-tetragonal phases up to an apparent tetragonal dominant phase at 1200 °C. The mechanical and piezoelectric properties were evaluated using nanoindentation and SS-PFM, obtaining better ferroelastic and piezoelectric properties in the tetragonal phase than in the orthorhombic phase.