Effects of Na nonstoichiometry in (Bi0.5Na0.5+x)TiO3 ceramics

Effects of Na nonstoichiometry in (Bi0.5Na0.5+x)TiO3 ceramics were investigated in the range of x=(−5)−(+1) mol % of Na0.5. A rhombohedral perovskite structure was maintained at all compositions with no secondary phases. Grain size decreased with Na nonstoichiometry. Piezoelectric coefficient (d33) increased from 74 pC/N at x=0 up to 91 pC/N at x=−3.5 then dropped with further Na deficiency. Depolarization temperature (Td), on the other hand, decreased from 190 °C at x=0 down to 112 °C at x=−3.5 then increased. Rhombohedral lattice distortion (90−α) decreasing with Na deficiency was a key factor for the variation in d33 and Td.