Abstract
Effect of excess CuO additive on the sintering behavior and piezoelectric properties of Bi0.5(Na82K0.18)0.5TiO3 ceramics was investigated. The
addition of small amount of excess CuO as low as 1 mol% was quite effective to lower the sintering temperature (Ts) of BNKT ceramics down to
975 8C while their piezoelectric properties were degraded by Cu doping. However, the electric field-induced strain was markedly enhanced by
further addition of Nb2O5 with CuO without elevating Ts. The normalized strain Smax/Emax of 427 pm/V was obtained with a specimen sintered
with 0.02 mol CuO and 0.03 mol Nb2O5 in excess.