Sintering, microstructure and piezoelectric properties of CuO and SnO2 co-modified sodium potassium niobate ceramics

Abstract The CuO and SnO 2 co-modified Na 0.52 K 0.48 NbO 3 ceramics were prepared by a conventional mixed oxide method. Densification can be further improved but the grain growth is inhibited as a small amount of SnO 2 is added into 1% CuO doped Na 0.52 K 0.48 NbO 3 . The results indicate that the physical and various electrical properties of CuO and SnO 2 doped Na 0.52 K 0.48 NbO 3 ceramics significantly depend on sintering conditions and the content of dopants. The ceramics doped with 1 mol% CuO and 1 mol% SnO 2 sintered at 1070 °C for 3 h show improved dielectric and piezoelectric properties: d 33 = 120 pC/N, k p = 0.38, Q m = 1040, ɛ r = 710 and tan δ = 0.013 (1 kHz), in comparison with un-doped or CuO doped compositions.