Fabrication and Characterization of Lead-free Perovskite W-K₀.₅Na₀.₅NbO₃–based Polymeric Composite Films

Author(s):

Latha Nataraj, Emil Sandoz-Rosado, Matthew Ivill, Frederick Beyer, Matt Dampf, David McLeod, and Frank Gardea

Abstract:

Potassium sodium niobate, K_0.5Na_0.5NbO₃ (KNN), has emerged as a promising, lead-free, nontoxic, environment-friendly, and biocompatible material that is an alternative to high-performing, lead-based piezoelectric materials. We previously demonstrated a facile, fast, cost-effective, and scalable mechanochemical process for the synthesis of the KNN ceramic in powdered form. It is well known that polymer matrices, with relatively low thermal stability, can be enhanced by the incorporation of a secondary ceramic phase, while the functional characteristics of a brittle ceramic material can be integrated into the flexible continuous polymer matrix. Thus, rendering a polymer–ceramic composite with desirable thermal, mechanical, and functional characteristics for various applications such as actuators and sensors, where flexible and high-strength materials are required at relatively high temperatures. Here, we report our success fabricating KNN-based polymeric composite films to investigate their characteristics.