Crystalline structural phase boundaries in (K,Na,Li)NbO 3 ceramics

Lead-free (K_xNa_1−x)_1−yLi_yNbO₃ ceramics (with x=0.50, y=0–0.08 and x=0.30–0.70, y=0.06, respectively) were synthesized using the conventional solid-state reaction technique. Compositional influences of K, Na and Li constituents on microstructures, crystalline structures, dielectric and piezoelectric properties were investigated. It has been known that microstructures change largely with the alkali constituents and that there exist three orthorhombic-tetragonal phase boundaries at room temperature. One occurs in (K_0.50Na_0.50)_1−yLi_yNbO₃ ceramics at y=0.05–0.06, which corresponds to the previously reported morphotropic phase boundary (MPB). The other two appear in (K_xNa_1−x)_0.94Li_0.06NbO₃ ceramics near x=0.40 and x=0.60, respectively. (K_0.50Na_0.50)_0.935Li_0.065NbO₃ and (K_0.45Na_0.55)_0.94Li_0.06NbO₃ ceramics show high piezoelectric properties with the d₃₃ values over 200 pC/N and the k_p values around 45% at room temperature. It is thought that the observed high piezoelectric properties are largely affected by the temperature-driven orthorhombic-tetragonal phase transition.     

Piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties of [(K0.4725Na0.4725)Li0.055]NbO3–(Ag0.5Li0.5)TaO3 lead‐free ceramics

New lead‐free piezoelectric (1 – x)[(K_0.4725Na_0.4725)Li_0.055]NbO₃– x (Ag_0.5Li_0.5)TaO₃ [(1 – x)KNNL–x ALT] ceramics were prepared by conventional sintering. Piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties and Curie temperature of the ceramics were studied. The (1 – x)KNNL–x ALT (x = 0.04) ceramics exhibit good properties (d₃₃ ～ 252 pC/N, k_p ～ 41%, T_C ～ 471 °C, T_o–t = 47 °C, P_r = 33.1 μC/cm², E_c = 10.6 kV/cm). These results show that (1 – x)KNNL–x ALT (x = 0.04) ceramic is a promising lead‐free piezoelectric material for high temperature application. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Growth and properties of Li,Ta modified (K,Na)NbO3 lead‐free piezoelectric single crystals

Li, Ta modified (K,Na)NbO₃ single crystals with the size of 18 mm × 18 mm × 10 mm were successfully grown by top‐seeded solution growth method, with orthorhombic–tetra‐gonal phase transition temperature ～79 °C and Curie temperature ～276 °C. The electromechanical coupling factors k₃₃ and k_t were found to be ～88% and ～65%, respectively. The piezoelectric coefficient d₃₃ for the [001]_c poled crystals reached 255 pC/N. In addition, the electromechanical coupling factor exhibited high stability over the temperature range of –50 °C to 70 °C, making these lead free crystals good candidates for electromechanical applications. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Influence of the misfit of the crystal chemical parameters of Na and Li cations on the dielectric properties of NaNbO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-LiNbO<Subscript>3</Subscript> solid solutions

It is established that the Curie-Weiss temperature of Na_{1 − x} Li _x NbO₃ solid solutions determined by extrapolation of linear portions of the temperature dependence of the reciprocal of the permittivity ɛ⁻¹ from the cubic phase sharply increases with x, although the temperature of the ɛ(T) maximum decreases. It is shown in terms of a simple theoretical model that the experimentally observed change in the dielectric properties of Na_{1 − x} Li _x NbO₃ is well explained under the assumption of formation of a dipole system due to the displacement of Li cations from the center of the cubooctahedral cavity because of the significant steric misfit between the Na and Li cations.     

Phase states and ferroelectric properties of Pb(Zr, Sn, Ti)O3 ceramic

The ferroelectric and dielectric properties of Pb_0.99[(Zr_1−x Sn_x)_1−y Ti_y]_0.98Nb_0.02O₃ ceramic of composition (I) x=0.5, y=0.04–0.12 and (II) x=0.4, y=0.06–0.09 were studied, and the T-x and E-T diagrams were constructed. When zinc is substituted for tin, the range of coexistence of the ferroelectric and antiferroelectric phases extends. The range of the nonpolar phase shrinks when the titanium content is increased.     

铌酸钾钠基无铅压电陶瓷的X射线衍射与相变分析

分析了斜方相、四方相铌酸钾钠基无铅压电陶瓷材料的结构和X射线衍射图谱的特点. 对于铌酸钾钠基压电材料斜方相结构, 从构成晶胞的一个单斜原胞进行分析, 计算出X射线衍射谱上每个衍射角附近的衍射峰数目和相对强度. 提出了2θ在20°—60°范围内根据(1 0 2)衍射峰(52°附近)和(1 2 1)衍射峰(57°附近)劈裂的数目区分斜方和四方相的新方法. 对于多晶陶瓷粉末, 可以更简便的由22°(或45°)附近前后峰的相对高低来判断斜方、四方相. 关键词： 铌酸钾钠 无铅压电陶瓷 X射线衍射 相变     

Phase transitions in solid solutions (1 ? x)BaTiO3-xBaMg1/3B2/3O3 (B = Nb, Ta)

The dielectric properties of ceramic samples of (1 − x)BaTiO₃-xBaMg_1/3Nb_2/3O₃ and (1 − x)BaTio₃-xBaMg_1/3Ta_2/3O₃ solid solutions (x = 0–0.25) are investigated in the frequency range from 10 Hz to 100 kHz at temperatures of 77–450 K. It is shown that the (x−T) phase diagrams of these solid solutions at x = 0.05 have a multiphase point at which the lines of all three phase transitions of BaTiO₃ converge. Original Russian Text ? V.G. Zalesskiĭ, V.V. Lemanov, E.P. Smirnova, A.V. Sotnikov, N. V. Zaĭtseva, 2007, published in Fizika Tverdogo Tela, 2007, Vol. 49, No. 1, pp. 108–112.     

Phase transitions in the Na3PO4-BiPO4 system

Abstract

The Na₃PO₄-BiPO₄ system has been investigated by X-ray diffraction and D.T.A. It features two definite compounds: Na₃Bi(PO₄)₂ and Na₃Bi₅(PO₄)₆, the first one being polymorphic. It crystallizes in two orthorhombic and two hexagonal forms below melting at 1025°C. The H.T. phase has the glaserite structure, and the other ones are related. Na₃Bi₅(PO₄)₆ is stable only at 680 ? t ? 820°C, but can easily be quenched. It has a non-centrosymmetric cubic structure (S.H.G.) of the eulytite type, and so potential piezoelectric applications can be expected. Na₃PO₄ and Na₃Bi(PO₄)₂ display two extensive ranges of solid solutions with the replacement mechanism 3Na⁺ → Bi³⁺ in the formula Na_3-3x Bi _x PO₄, respectively with 0 ? x ? 0.29 and 0.5 ? x ? 0.62 over 950°C.     

A study of the phase diagrams of (NH4)3Ga1−x ScxF6 ammonium cryolites

This paper reports on the results of analyzing p-T and x-T phase diagrams and calorimetric properties of solid solutions in (NH₄)₃Ga_1?x Sc_xF₆ cryolites with scandium concentrations x=0.0, 0.1, 0.35, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0. The thermodynamic parameters of the phase transitions observed in the studied compounds are determined. The generalized phase diagram and successive structural transformations in a series of (NH₄)₃ Me ³⁺F₆ ammonium cryolites are discussed.     

Li‐, Sb‐ and Ta‐modified (K,Na)NbO3 nanopowder prepared via a water‐based sol–gel method

Stable Li‐, Sb‐ and Ta‐modified (K, Na)NbO₃ (LTS‐KNN) sol and gel were successfully prepared via an economical water‐based sol–gel method. Simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG‐DSC) and X‐ray diffraction showed that organic compounds were eliminated and a pure perovskite phase formed around 600 °C. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the LTS‐KNN particle size was in the range of 11–34 nm after decomposition at 600 °C. Moreover, high performance LTS‐KNN ceramic was successfully prepared at a low sintering temperature of 1000 °C by use of the nanopowder, and its room‐temperature d₃₃, K_p, K and loss are 311 pC/N, 46.8%, 1545 and 0.024, respectively. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Electrical second harmonic generation by (Pb x -Ba1−x )TiO3 and (Pb x -Sr1−x )TiO3 in the autostabilized state

The temperature autostabilizing nonlinear dielectric element (TANDEL) effect and second harmonic generation have been studied in the ferroelectric solid solutions of (Pb _x -Ba_1−x )TiO₃ and (Pb _x -Sr_1−x )TiO₃ near the Curie temperature used as TANDEL. The generated second harmonics are linear for low d.c. biasing fields with zero off-set while they decrease sharply at higher d.c. biasing fields. The results show that these solid solutions might be used as TANDEL elements.     

Raman tensor analysis of (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3–LiSbO3 lead‐free ceramics and its application to study grain/domain orientation

A quantitative polarized Raman analysis of ferroelectric grain/domain orientation in LiSbO₃ (LS‐modified) (K_0.5Na_0.5)NbO₃ (KNN) ceramics is presented, based on the analysis of the complex orientation dependence in space of their Raman‐active modes. Complete sets of Raman tensor elements of A_g, and E_g phonon modes for orthorhombic/tetragonal structures of KNN have been determined. Through this spectroscopic algorithm, quantitative information could be extracted in terms of three Euler angles in space for KNN samples consisting of mixed phases, thus enabling quantitative visualization of the local distribution of grains/domains in the solid angle. As an application of the method, we quantitatively examined the unknown crystallographic grain orientation patterns on the surfaces of pure KNN and of KNN‐0.05LS ceramics. These two samples were useful to clarify a polymorphic phase transition from the orthorhombic to the tetragonal phase taking place in the LS‐modified KNN system. Thus, we demonstrated that polarized Raman spectroscopy is a valuable and efficient tool for nondestructive three‐dimensional assessments of grain/domain orientation in ferroelectric materials with complex polymorphic structures. We believe that the data shown here represent a typical scenario encountered in grain/domain orientation assessments of piezoelectric perovskites. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Phase transitions and electrical properties of solid solutions of sodium, lithium, and strontium niobates

An additional study of solid solutions in the (Na, Li, Sr_0.5)NbO₃ ternary system was performed. More detailed information concerning its phase diagram and physical parameters in a wide range of component concentrations is obtained. The compositions obtained are of interest for application in highly sensitive and high-frequency transducers.     

Phase structure,electrical properties,and stability of 0.96(K0.48Na0.52)1−xLixNbO3–0.04Bi0.5Na0.5ZrO3 lead-free piezoceramics

In this work, 0.96(K_0.48Na_0.52)_1−xLi_xNbO₃–0.04Bi_0.5Na_0.5ZrO₃ lead-free piezoceramics were prepared using the conventional solid state reaction method in order to attain both a high T_C and an enhanced d₃₃. The effect of Li content on their phase structure, electrical properties, and stability was systematically investigated. These results indicate that adding Li could result in the increase of T_C and the decrease of T_O–T. Here we obtain the ceramics with an orthogonal–tetragonal phase boundary in the composition of x = 0.02, and then enhanced piezoelectric properties and a high Curie temperature (i.e., d₃₃ ∼ 255 pC/N, k_p ∼ 41%, and T_C ∼ 360 °C) were observed, showing the realization of our objective. In addition, a good stability of piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties has been shown in such a material system.     

Phase diagram and physical properties of the sodium niobate-lithium niobate-cadmium niobate three-component system

The phase diagram of the (Na,Li,Cd_0.5)NbO₃ ternary system is refined. The electrical properties of solid solutions over a broad range of the component concentrations were studied. The compositions promising for high-temperature transducers were obtained.     

Properties of non-stoichiometric 0.935(K0.5+xNa0.5+x)NbO3-0.065LiSbO3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

0.935(K_0.5+xNa_0.5+x)NbO₃-0.065LiSbO₃ lead-free piezoelectric ceramics were prepared by normal sintering, and their piezoelectric and dielectric properties were investigated by varying the compensating amount x of alkaline elements (Na and K) addition. It was found that the crystal structure changed from tetragonal to orthorhombic with increasing x from −0.010 to 0.010. An MPB was tailored by optimizing the alkaline elements contents. Enhanced electrical and electromechanical responses of d₃₃=253 pC/N, k_p=0.47, k_t=0.45 and tanδ=0.027 were obtained in the ceramics with x=0.005. These excellent piezoelectric and electromechanical properties indicate that this system may be an attractive lead-free material for a wide range of electro-mechanical transducer applications.     

On the oscillons in the signum-Gordon model

New periodic solutions of signum-Gordon equation are presented. We first find solutions φ₀(x, t) defined for (x, t) ∈ ? × [0, T ] and satisfying the condition φ₀(x, 0) = φ₀(x, T ) = 0. Then these solutions are extended to the whole spacetime by using (2.4).     

Ab‐initio thermodynamic calculations of Mg2BIV (BIV = Si,Ge, Sn) solid solutions

The thermodynamic properties of ternary Mg₂B^IV (B^IV = Si, Ge, Sn) solid solutions were first calculated by the ab‐initio density functional method. The results showed that there exist composition regions with d²G /dx² < 0 in Mg₂Si_1–x Sn_x and Mg₂Ge_1–x Sn_x systems, implying the possibility of spinodal decomposition of the pseudobinary solid solutions. It is suggested that the spinodal decomposition would be a potential way to obtain Mg₂B^IV based bulk in‐situ nanocomposites with reduced grain sizes and enhanced phonon scattering, and hence an improved thermoelectric figure of merit. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Concentration dependences of the properties of multicomponent PZT-based piezoelectric ceramics in the morphotropic transition range

The following three ternary PZT-based systems are studied in detail: 0.98Pb(Ti_xZr_1−x )O₃-0.02Pb(Nb_1/2Bi_1/2)O₃, 0.98(Pb_0.9727Sr_0.0273)(Ti_xZr_1−x )O₃-0.02Pb(Nb_1/2Bi_1/2)O₃ + 1 wt% PbO, and 0.98(Pb_0.9727Sr_0.0273)(Ti_xZr_1−x )O₃-0.02Pb(Nb_1/2Bi_1/2)O₃ + 2 wt % PbGeO₃, where 0.45 ≤ x ≤ 0.49 and the concentration step is Δx = 0.025. A number of concepts are formulated regarding the phase diagrams of PZT-type systems near the morphotropic transition. A scheme for real tetragonal-rhombohedral transformation is given. The maxima of the electrophysical characteristics of the solid solutions from the morphotropic range are shown to be caused mainly by an appearing intermediate phase. Analysis of the insulating, piezoelectric, and mechanical properties of the samples demonstrates that there is a group of solid solutions that are promising materials for high-temperature piezoelectric devices operating in the medium-frequency band.     

Optical Properties of the (CuInSe2) x ·(2ZnSe)1−x and (CuInTe2) x (·2ZnTe)1−x Solid Solutions

Crystals of the compounds CuInSe₂, CuInTe₂, ZnSe, and ZnTe, and the solid solutions (CuInSe₂) _x ·(2ZnSe)_1–x and (CuInTe₂) _x ·(2ZnTe)_1–x were grown by the Bridgman and chemical transport reactions methods. Their transmission and reflection spectra in the region of the main absorption line edge were studied. The forbidden band gap of the indicated materials was determined and its concentration dependences were built for the solid solutions. It is established that the forbidden band gap changes linearly with the x composition and is satisfactorily described by the square-law dependence.