Processing, profiling and energy harvesting performance of BZT-BCT modified KNNS lead-free piezoceramics
摘要
Lead-free KNN ceramics modified with Sb5+ and BZT-BCT were synthesized by a solid-state reaction method and the sintering temperature was optimized between 1025 °C and 1100 °C to enhance electrical properties. X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of a pure perovskite phase at lower sintering temperatures of 1025 °C and 1050 °C, while traces of tungsten bronze phases appeared at higher temperatures. Combined XRD and SEM analyses identified 1050 °C as the optimal sintering temperature, yielding a homogeneous microstructure with an average grain size of ~ 0.47 µm. AFM analysis revealed surface roughness in the range of a few hundred nanometers. The ceramics exhibited well-defined ferroelectric behavior with a remnant polarization of 14.94 µC/cm2 and a coercive field of 6.56 kV/cm. A high dielectric constant (~ 5.7 × 103) and a phase transition temperature of ~ 410 °C were obtained along with a diffuse phase transition exhibiting partial relaxor-like behavior. Under an optimal poling field of 3 kV/cm, a piezoelectric coefficient (d₃₃) of 183 pC/N was achieved. Flexible ceramic-PDMS microgenerators fabricated on ITO/PET substrates produced an output voltage of ~ 10 V under finger tapping (~ 10 N), demonstrating their potential for energy harvesting applications.