The influence of preparation methods and doping on the electric-field-induced piezoelectric properties of potassium bismuth titanate (K₀.₅Bi₀.₅TiO₃)

Abstract

In this article, the influence of processing conditions, dopant type and poling temperature on the microstructure and piezoelectric
behavior of lead-free K_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃ (KBT) ceramics is presented. Base KBT samples and those doped with Sr, Ca and Mn were synthesized via a solid-state reaction route, and examined with respect to their structural characteristics and electromechanical response. Particular emphasis was placed on elevated-temperature poling and its interaction with grain morphology and defect chemistry. SEM observations were used to identify dopant-dependent microstructural variations, while measurements of the d₃₃ coefficient provided insight into how these factors influence efficiency of the poling process. The study demonstrates the importance of jointly optimizing synthesis parameters, dopant selection and poling conditions when tailoring the functional properties of KBT-based piezoelectric ceramics.