(Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3-Ba(Cu1/2W1/2)O3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

(Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3 with 0-6 mol% Ba(Cu1/2W1/2)O-3 (BNT-BCW), a new member of the BNT-based group, has been prepared following the conventional mixed oxide route. The compacted bodies were sintered at 1130degreesC for 2 h to get dense ceramics. The addition of BCW into BNT ceramics facilitated the poling process because of a reduction in leakage current. 0.995BNT(.)0.005BCW ceramics exhibit a relatively high piezoelectric constant (d(33) = 80 x 10(-12) C/N) and a relatively low dielectric loss (tan delta = 1.5%). Increased amount of BCW was found to increase the dielectric constant and loss of BNT-BCW ceramics and to suppress the grain growth. During sintering, some BCW diffuses into the lattice of BNT to form a solid solution and some remains on the grain boundaries.