We investigated the sintering behavior and piezoelectric properties of lead-free $(K_{0.5}Na_{0.5})NbO_3$ ceramics co-doped with excess 0.01 mol ZnO and x mol $MnO_2$, where x was varied from 0 to 0.03. Excess $MnO_2$ addition was found to retard the ...
We investigated the sintering behavior and piezoelectric properties of lead-free $(K_{0.5}Na_{0.5})NbO_3$ ceramics co-doped with excess 0.01 mol ZnO and x mol $MnO_2$, where x was varied from 0 to 0.03. Excess $MnO_2$ addition was found to retard the grain growth and densification during sintering. However, 0.005 mol $MnO_2$ addition improved the piezoelectric properties of 0.01 mol ZnO added $(K_{0.5}Na_{0.5})NbO_3$ ceramics. The planar mode piezoelectric coupling coefficient, electromechanical quality factor, and piezoelectric constant $d_{33}$ of 0.01 mol ZnO and 0.005 mol $MnO_2$ added specimen were 0.40, 304, and 214 pC/N, respectively.