An easy approach to obtain textured microstructure and transparent seed crystal prepared by simple molten salt synthesis in modified potassium sodium Niobate

Microstructural engineering in conjunction with compositional design has been used for tailoring the properties of piezoelectric materials. In piezoelectric ceramics, the plate-like particles are used for the seed materials in order to realize the textured microstructures. In this study, the seed crystals are synthesized by simple molten salt synthesis (SMSS), using a generalized rule for driving the abnormal grain growth in (K,Na)NbO₃ (KNN)-based ceramics. Furthermore, the textured ceramics are successfully produced in Ba-doped KNN materials, using the seed crystals which are grown by SMSS. Consequently, the textured ceramic shows the Lotgering factor of 92% and the piezoelectric constant (d₃₃) which is similar to that of a single crystal. It is suggested that the excess donor ratio must be considered to obtain the seed crystals (synthesized by SMSS) and textured microstructures in KNN-based ceramics.