Fabrication and electrical properties of potassium excess and poor (Bi 1/2K1/2)TiO3 ceramics

Abstract

Bismuth potassium titanate, (Bi1/2K1/2)TiO 3 (BKT), ceramics were fabricated using KHCO3 as a starting material to control K amount precisely. Then, we fabricated (Bi1/2K (1+x)/2)TiO3 [BKT-10000x] ceramics to clarify an effect of poor or excess K ions in BKT ceramics for physical and electrical properties. The BKT-10000x ceramics were prepared by a conventional ceramic fabrication process, and then high density ratios of about 97% were obtained in all BKT-10000x ceramics (10000x = -10-100). The precise control of K amount did not strongly affect the sinterability for BKT ceramics. On the other hand, electrical properties such as ferroelectric, strain and piezoelectric behaviors of BKT ceramics are very sensitivity to the amount of K ions. Therefore, it is very important to control the amount of K in BKT ceramics. © 2013 The Ceramic Society of Japan.