Lead-free ferro- and piezoelectric K0.5Na0.5NbO3-based materials

-

Application of polycrystalline piezo- and ferroelectric materials requires fundamental understanding of the relationship between grain-/domainstructure and the functional properties. The present proposal aims to extend the applicants research groups compe tence in ceramics engineering by domain texturing and enhancement of piezoelectricity and ferroelectricity of the most promising lead-free family of materials, K0.5Na0.5NbO3-based ceramics. The development of these materials both in the form of bulk mate rials and as well as thin films on a substrate will enable the substitution of the current lead-based materials in electronic and electromechanical applications with lead-free and hence environmental friendly alternatives. The research activities are both fundamental and technological in nature and will result in new understanding of the fabrication methods, the piezo- and ferroelectric properties and thereby utilize the use of these materials in the near future. The project will educate two PhD candidate s and one post doc and 10 publications in international peer review journals will be published.