Effects of Manganese Addition on Piezoelectric Properties of the (K, Na, Li)(Nb, Ta, Sb)O₃ Lead-Free Ceramics

Abstract

Recently, it was reported that the alkaline niobate-based (K, Na, Li)(Nb, Ta, Sb)O₃ (LF4) perovskite ceramics showed excellent piezoelectric properties and has been regarded as a new candidate of lead-free piezoelectric materials. However, the effects of additives on the piezoelectric property of LF4 have not been studied intensively so far. In this study, the effect of MnCO₃ addition to the LF4 was investigated. The sample showed a tetragonal phase at room temperature. The MnCO₃-doping changed the LF4 to “hard” piezoelectric ceramics with an improvement of Q_m from 26 to 73.