Optimal properties like piezoelectricity can be found in polarizable materials for which the structure changes sharply under small composition variations in the vicinity of their Morphotropic Phase Boundary or at the triple point in their isobaric temperature composition phase diagram. Because of environmental safety concerns which make urgent to replace lead in piezoelectric materials, lead-free Li-, Ta- and Sb-doped-(K_0.5Na_0.5)NbO₃ and BaTiO₃-based solid solutions are considered due to their outstanding iezoelectric performance [1-2]. Crystal growth by Top Seeded Solution Growth is presented and chemical, dielectric and piezoelectric characterizations are investigated [3-4].

 

Key-words:

Crystal growth; TSSG; lead-free single crystals; BCTZ; KNN; solid solutions; chemical, dielectric and piezoelectric characterizations

 

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[2] J. Rödel, J. Wook, and K. Seifert et al., Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 92, 1153-1177(2009).

[3] F. Benabdallah, P. Veber, M. Prakasam, O. Viraphong, K. Shimamura, and M. Maglione,J. Appl. Phys. 115, 144102 (2014).

[4] M. Prakasam, P. Veber, O. Viraphong, L. Etienne, M. Lahaye, S Pechev, E. Lebraud, K. Shimamura, M.Maglione,Comptes Rendus Physique, 14,133-140 (2013).