You can now read the recently published article by
ANTONIO IACOMINI, MARIA DORE, COSTANTINO CAU and LORENA PARDO.
“Shaping the Crystal Structure and Piezoelectricity of Potassium Sodium Niobate: A Review»
Materials Today Communications, 115936, (2026)
DOI: 10.1016/j.mtcomm.2026.115936
Abstract
Research activities on lead-free piezoelectric ceramic materials have been ongoing for over twenty years. In the meantime, many of the initial drawbacks of these materials compared to conventional lead titanate-zirconate (PZT) ceramics have been overcome. Today, industrial production of potassium-sodium niobate (KNN)-based ceramics has become a reality, applications have been identified and KNN-based products have been manufactured. While certain KNN compositions have achieved piezoelectric performance comparable to, or even exceeding, that of lead-based systems, persistent inconsistencies in the literature regarding the description of their crystalline structures underscore the need for a clearer understanding. This focused review critically examines the key factors shaping the crystal structure of KNN ceramics, with a particular emphasis on processing techniques as a pivotal parameter. The discussion is organized around three fundamental aspects: i) the crystal structure of pure KNN, ii) the structural modifications induced by additives, and iii) the influence of texturing processes on crystalline organization. Special attention is devoted to X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization and the structure-property relationships that govern KNN’s performance.