Microstructure, phase transition, and electrical properties of (K0.5Na0.5)1−xLix(Nb1−yTay)O3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

Lead-free ceramics (K0.5Na0.5)1−xLix(Nb1−yTay)O3 have been prepared by an ordinary sintering technique. Our results reveal that Li+ and Ta5+ diffuse into the K0.5Na0.5NbO3 lattices to form a solid solution with a perovskite structure. The substitution of Li+ induces an increase in the Curie temperature (TC) and a decrease in the ferroelectric tetragonal–ferroelectric orthorhombic phase transition temperature (TO-T). On the other hand, both TC and TO-T decrease after the substitution of Ta5+. A coexistence of the orthorhombic and tetragonal phases is formed at 0.03