High-performance potassium sodium niobate-based lead-free materials without antimony

(1− x − y )(K 0.45 Na 0.55 )NbO 3 – y Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 ZrO 3 – x BaHfO 3 –0.2%MnO 2 ceramics without antimony have been fabricated by the conventional solid-state method, and influences of Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 ZrO 3 and BaHfO 3 contents on their structure and electrical properties are studied. Composition modification can result in the formation of rhombohedral–orthorhombic–tetragonal phase coexistence in the ceramics ( y = 0.04 and 0.01 ≤ x ≤ 0.02 as well as x = 0.01 and 0.04 ≤ y ≤ 0.045). In the region of this phase boundary, the ceramics exhibit both enhanced piezoelectric properties ( d 33 ~ 385 pC/N, k p ~ 51%, S ~ 0.157%) and high Curie temperature ( T C ~ 320 °C). Especially, good comprehensive properties and the absence of antimony make the material more environmentally friendly.