Effects of manganese addition on piezoelectric properties of the (K, Na, Li) (Nb, Ta, Sb)O3 lead-free ceramics

Abstract

Recently, it was reported that the alkaline niobate-based (K, Na, Li) (Nb, Ta, Sb)O2 (LF4) perovskite ceramics showed excellent piezoelectric properties and has been regarded as a new candidate of lead-free piezoelectric materials. However, the effects of additives on the piezoelectric property of LF4 have not been studied intensively so far. In this study, the effect of MnCO3 addition to the LF4 was investigated. The sample showed a tetragonal phase at room temperature. The MnCO3-doping changed the LF4 to "hard" piezoelectric ceramics with an improvement of Q m from 26 to 73.