Additive effects on electrical properties of (Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3 ferroelectric ceramics

Microstructure, dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of bismuth sodium titanate (Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3 (BNT) were studied for a candidate as lead-free piezoelectric ceramics. In the case of Mn addition, the Curie temperature, Tc, decreases rapidly with increasing amount of doped MnCO3. The resistivity, ρ, is enhanced to 3×1014 (Ωcm) (at 40°C) for BNT+MnCO3 0.2 (wt.%) and electromechanical coupling factor, k33, was obtained the relatively high value under the condition of the low poling field, Ep for the Mn-doped BNT ceramics. It seems that Mn ions exist in the grain, and substitute for the A- or B-site of the perovskite structure, and eject Bi ions to the air.