0.99 (K 0.45 Na 0.52 Li 0.03) (Nb1−xSbx)O3– 0.01 BiScO3 lead-free ceramics with excellent piezoelectric properties and broad sintering temperature

0.99(K0.45Na0.52Li0.03)(Nb1−xSbx)O3–0.01BiScO3 (KNLNSx–BS) ceramics were designed for excellent piezoelectric properties with wide sintering temperature. The orthorhombic (R) and tetragonal (T) phases coexistence was identified in the composition range of 0.05≤x≤0.07, and the optimum piezoelectric properties of d33=341 pC/N and kp=52.1% were achieved at x=0.06. The ceramics exhibit stable piezoelectric properties (d33=319–341 pC/N) in the sintering temperature range of 1080–1140 °C. As a result, the broad sintering temperature and excellent piezoelectric properties indicate that the ceramics are promising candidates for practical applications.