Effect of NaCl on the microstructure and electrical properties of K0.5Na0.5NbO3 ceramics prepared by cold sintering process

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics 2019-12, Vol.30 (24), p.21435-21443
• Main Authors: Chi, Mengshuang, Ma, Weibing, Guo, Jingdong, Wu, Jinquan, Li, Tingting, Wang, Shenghui, Zhang, Pengfei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkali metals; Aqueous solutions; Ceramics; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cold pressing; Cold sintering; Curie temperature; Electrical properties; Grain size; Low temperature; Materials Science; Microstructure; Optical and Electronic Materials; Sintering; Sodium chloride
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-019-02523-2

K 0.5 Na 0.5 NbO 3 ceramics are considered as a potential candidate for PZT due to its excellent electrical properties and high Curie temperature. In this work, Cold sintering process (CSP) has been used in preparing the K 0.5 Na 0.5 NbO 3 -NaCl ceramics. Based on the experimental characterization, utilizing NaCl aqueous solutions as a transient solvent can change the grain microstructure of KNN ceramics, inhibit the volatilization of alkali metal elements, and lower the sintering temperature. As sintering at 900 °C, the electrical properties of the ceramic were T c = 448 °C, d 33 = 115 pC/N, k p = 32%, and the obtained sample had an average grain size of 0.5 μm. The results indicate that CSP with NaCl aqueous solutions is an efficient method for low-temperature sintering of KNN ceramics with uniform grain size as well as good performance in electrical properties.