Lead-free smart materials based on alkali metal niobates: phase formation, crystal structure, macroscopic responses

Svetlana I. Dudkina; Denis I. Zorin; Ekaterina V. Glazunova; Lidiya A. Shilkina; Inna N. Andryushina; Konstantin P. Andryushin; Ilya A. Verbenko; Larisa A. Reznichenko

doi:10.17308/kcmf.2026.28/13565

Authors

Svetlana I. Dudkina Physics Research Institute of Southern Federal University, 194, Stachki ave., Rostov-on-Don 344090, Russian Federation
Denis I. Zorin Physics Research Institute of Southern Federal University, 194, Stachki ave., Rostov-on-Don 344090, Russian Federation
Ekaterina V. Glazunova Научно-исследовательский институт физики Южного федерального университета, пр. Стачки, 194, Ростов-на-Дону 344090, Российская Федерация , Комплексный научно-исследовательский институт им. Х. И. Ибрагимова РАН, пр. В. Алиева (Старопромысловое шоссе) 21а, Грозный 364020, Чеченская республика, Российская Федерация
Lidiya A. Shilkina Kh. I. Ibragimov Integrated Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 21a, V. Aliyev Ave. (Staropromyslovoe Shosse), Grozny 364020, Chechen Republic, Russian Federation , Physics Research Institute of Southern Federal University, 194, Stachki ave., Rostov-on-Don 344090, Russian Federation
Inna N. Andryushina Physics Research Institute of Southern Federal University, 194, Stachki ave., Rostov-on-Don 344090, Russian Federation
Konstantin P. Andryushin Physics Research Institute of Southern Federal University, 194, Stachki ave., Rostov-on-Don 344090, Russian Federation , Kh. I. Ibragimov Integrated Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 21a, V. Aliyev Ave. (Staropromyslovoe Shosse), Grozny 364020, Chechen Republic, Russian Federation
Ilya A. Verbenko Physics Research Institute of Southern Federal University, 194, Stachki ave., Rostov-on-Don 344090, Russian Federation
Larisa A. Reznichenko Physics Research Institute of Southern Federal University, 194, Stachki ave., Rostov-on-Don 344090, Russian Federation

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17308/kcmf.2026.28/13565

Keywords:

Lead-free piezoceramics, Alkali metal niobates, Solid solutions, Interphase boundaries, Mechanical activation, Hot pressing

Abstract

Objectives: In the global practice of researching various materials for piezoelectric devices, one of the first places is occupied by functional (smart) materials based on lead-containing compositions. However, the transition to environmentally friendly products, necessitated by the formation of new Russian and European legislative frameworks, has forced the search for other materials science solutions by eliminating lead from the elemental base of materials. An alternative to known compositions are solid solutions based on alkali metal niobates from morphotropic heterophase regions of the corresponding binary and ternary systems, characterized by extreme properties near the interphase boundaries. However, they have not found wide application in practice due to difficulties in phase formation during synthesis and the formation of a dense ceramic framework during sintering.

Experimental: In this work, using mechanical activation and hot pressing procedures, which were not previously used in such environments, it was possible to obtain lead-free, non-toxic ferroelectric piezoelectric ceramics with improved macroscopic responses due to the transformation of the phase coexistence regions.

Conclusions: As a result of the research, multi-frequency materials have been developed and created, including those with an elevated Curie temperature, piezoelectric sensitivity, thermal stability, and pyroelectric effect for various piezoelectric applications

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Author Biographies

Svetlana I. Dudkina, Physics Research Institute of Southern Federal University, 194, Stachki ave., Rostov-on-Don 344090, Russian Federation

Senior Researcher, Department of Intelligent Materials and Nanotechnology, Physics Research Institute, Southern Federal University (Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation)
Denis I. Zorin, Physics Research Institute of Southern Federal University, 194, Stachki ave., Rostov-on-Don 344090, Russian Federation

postgraduate student, Research Assistant, Department of Intelligent Materials and Nanotechnology, Physics Research Institute, Southern Federal University (Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation)
Ekaterina V. Glazunova, Научно-исследовательский институт физики Южного федерального университета, пр. Стачки, 194, Ростов-на-Дону 344090, Российская Федерация, Комплексный научно-исследовательский институт им. Х. И. Ибрагимова РАН, пр. В. Алиева (Старопромысловое шоссе) 21а, Грозный 364020, Чеченская республика, Российская Федерация

Cand. Sci. (Chem.), Researcher, Department of Intelligent Materials and Nanotechnology, Physics Research Institute, Southern Federal University (Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation)
Lidiya A. Shilkina, Kh. I. Ibragimov Integrated Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 21a, V. Aliyev Ave. (Staropromyslovoe Shosse), Grozny 364020, Chechen Republic, Russian Federation, Physics Research Institute of Southern Federal University, 194, Stachki ave., Rostov-on-Don 344090, Russian Federation

Senior Researcher, Department of Intelligent Materials and Nanotechnology, Physics Research Institute, Southern Federal University (Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation)
Inna N. Andryushina, Physics Research Institute of Southern Federal University, 194, Stachki ave., Rostov-on-Don 344090, Russian Federation

Cand. Sci. (Chem.), Senior Researcher, Department of Intelligent Materials and Nanotechnologies, Physics Research Institute, Southern Federal University (Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation)
Konstantin P. Andryushin, Physics Research Institute of Southern Federal University, 194, Stachki ave., Rostov-on-Don 344090, Russian Federation, Kh. I. Ibragimov Integrated Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 21a, V. Aliyev Ave. (Staropromyslovoe Shosse), Grozny 364020, Chechen Republic, Russian Federation

Dr. Sci. (Phys.–Math.), Leading Researcher, Department of Intelligent Materials and Nanotechnology, Physics Research Institute, Southern Federal University (Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation)
Ilya A. Verbenko, Physics Research Institute of Southern Federal University, 194, Stachki ave., Rostov-on-Don 344090, Russian Federation

Dr. Sci. (Phys.–Math.), Director of the Physics Research Institute, Southern Federal University (Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation)
Larisa A. Reznichenko, Physics Research Institute of Southern Federal University, 194, Stachki ave., Rostov-on-Don 344090, Russian Federation

Dr. Sci. (Phys.–Math.), Professor, Head of the Department of Intelligent Materials and Nanotechnology, Physics Research Institute, Southern Federal University (Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation)

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