Influence of Nb 5+ Substitution on the Phase Formation, Microstructure and Electrical Properties of SBNLT Ceramics Synthesized via the Solid-State Combustion Technique

AbstractIn this study, the phase formation, microstructure, and electrical properties of Sr0.3(Bi0.70Na0.67Li0.03)0.5(Ti1-xNbx)O3: SBNLT-Nbx lead-free ceramics synthesized via the solid state combustion technique were examined. SBNLT-Nbx ceramics with various Nb content of x = 0, 0.01, 0.03, and 0.05 were calcined at 750 °C and sintered at 1175 °C for 2 h, respectively. The SBNLT-Nbx calcined powders showed a perovskite structure and a secondary NbO2 phase was observed with Nb5+ content of 0.03 and 0.05 mol%. All SBNLT-Nbx ceramics exhibited a pure perovskite phase with coexisting rhombohedral and tetragonal phases. The grain size was in the range of 1.17-1.34 µm. The εmax and tan δmax tended to decrease with increased x content. The best ferroelectric and energy storage properties (Pmax = 27.45 µC/cm2, Pr = 1.92 µC/cm2 and Wtotal = 0.958 J/cm3, Wrec = 0.739 J/cm3, Wloss = 0.219 J/cm3, η = 77.1%), measured under an electric field of 70 kV/cm, were observed at x = 0.01.Keywords: SBNLTdielectricferroelectricenergy storagecombustion technique Disclosure StatementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationFundingThis work was supported by Naresuan University (R2566C005). The authors thank the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University for their supporting facilities and and Prof. Dr. David P. Cann, Oregon State University, for his assistance with polarization-electric field (P-E) hysteresis loop measurements. Thanks are also given to Asst. Prof. Dr. Kyle V. Lopin for his help in editing the manuscript.