Articles
  • Preparation of lead-free piezoelectric (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3 nanopowder by a simple aqueous route

  • John G. Fishera,*, Kwi-Hak Leea and Won-Jin Moonb

  • aSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
    bKorea Basic Science Institute, Gwangju Center, Gwangju 61186, Korea

Abstract

(K0.5Na0.5)NbO3-based ceramic powders for lead-free piezoelectric applications are usually prepared by solid state synthesis. This generally involves wet ball milling in an organic liquid such as ethanol, which is a drawback for industrial production. In the present work, a method for the preparation of NaNbO3 nanopowders is modified to produce a simple method of preparing (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3 nanopowders by an aqueous route. K2CO3, Na2CO3 and NH4[NbO(C2O4)2].xH2O are mixed in water and dried to form a gel, which is then calcined at temperatures between 400 ~ 650 °C for 1 h. The uncalcined gel and calcination products are analysed using Thermogravimetric Analysis/Differential Thermal Analysis, X-ray Diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy and Raman Scattering. A single phase tetragonal (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3 nanopowder with a particle size of ~ 30 nm can be produced after calcination at 650 °C for 1 h.


Keywords: lead-free piezoelectric, (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3, nanopowder, microstructure

This Article

  • 2020; 21(1): 5-13

    Published on Feb 28, 2020

  • 10.36410/jcpr.2020.21.1.5
  • Received on Feb 15, 2019
  • Revised on Dec 20, 2019
  • Accepted on Jan 21, 2020

Correspondence to

  • John G. Fisher

  • School of Materials Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
    Tel : +82-62-530-1702 Fax: +82-62-530-1699

  • E-mail: johnfisher@jnu.ac.kr