Piezo-electric ceramic composition, method for producing the composition, and electric component comprising the composition

1. A piezoelectric ceramic composition comprising:

a matrix material comprising at least two matrix components having a perovskite structure;

a first matrix component being (Bi 0.5 A 0.5 )EO 3 ;

a second matrix component being BaEO 3 ; and

a third matrix component being Bi(Me 0.5 E 0.5 )O 3 ,

wherein A is selected from an alkali metal, or a mixture of alkali metals;

wherein E is independently selected from titanium, zirconium and mixtures of titanium and zirconium;

wherein Me is selected from bivalent metals.

2. The piezoelectric ceramic composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises the matrix material and an additive, the additive being a metal oxide, and is selected so as to enhance processing properties and to not appreciably degrade electromechanical properties.

3. The piezoelectric ceramic composition according to claim 1 , wherein Me is selected from zinc, magnesium and a mixture of zinc and magnesium.

4. The piezoelectric ceramic composition according to claim 1 , comprising a matrix material represented by the formula:

k (Bi 0.5 A 0.5 )EO 3 -l BaEO 3 -m Bi(Me 0.5 E 0.5 )O 3

wherein

0<k≦0.96,

0<l≦0.96,

0.04≦m≦0.15 and

k+l+m=1.

5. The piezoelectric ceramic composition according to claim 4 , comprising the matrix material and an additive, the composition represented by the following formula:

a[k (Bi 0.5 A 0.5 )EO 3 -l BaEO 3 -m Bi(Me 0.5 E 0.5 )O 3 ]-b M f O g

wherein M is selected from monovalent metals, bivalent metals and trivalent metals and mixtures thereof, wherein M f O g represents the corresponding metal oxide M 2 O, MO or M 2 O 3 , a+b=1 and

wherein 0<b≦3 weight % and 97≦a≦100 weight % of the ceramic composition.

6. The piezoelectric ceramic composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises the matrix material and an additive, and the additive is selected from transition metal oxides, particularly MnO, CuO and ZnO.

7. The piezoelectric ceramic composition according to claim 1 , wherein the contents of the matrix components are chosen so as to form a composition within the ferroelectric phase, within the morphotropic phase between a ferroelectric and a non-ferroelectric phase or within a non-ferroelectric phase in the vicinity of the morphotropic phase boundary.

8. The piezoelectric ceramic composition according to claim 7 , wherein the contents of the matrix components are chosen so as to form the non-ferroelectric phase in the vicinity of the morphotropic phase boundary and wherein the content of the matrix component Bi(Me 0.5 E 0.5 )O 3 is selected to be between 0 and 3 mol % higher than the content of this matrix component in the corresponding composition at the phase boundary of the morphotropic phase and the non-ferroelectric phase.

9. The piezoelectric ceramic composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition exhibits an effective piezoelectric constant d 33 * greater than 350 pm/V.

10. The piezoelectric ceramic composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition exhibits an effective piezoelectric constant d 33 * greater than 549 pm/V.

11. The piezoelectric ceramic composition according to claim 1 , wherein the matrix material consists of the three matrix components having the perovskite structure.

12. A piezoelectric ceramic composition comprising:

a matrix material comprising at least two matrix components having a perovskite structure;

a first matrix component being selected from (Bi 0.5 A 0.5 )EO 3 and BaEO 3 ; and

a further matrix component being Bi(Me O.5 E 0.5 )O 3 ,

wherein A is selected from an alkali metal, particularly sodium or potassium, or a mixture of alkali metals;

wherein E is independently selected from titanium, zirconium and mixtures of titanium and zirconium;

wherein Me is selected from bivalent metals; and

wherein the composition comprises the matrix material and an additive, the additive being a metal oxide, and is selected so as to enhance processing properties and to not appreciably degrade electromechanical properties.

13. The piezoelectric ceramic composition according to claim 12 , wherein the matrix material consists of said at least two matrix components having the perovskite structure.

14. A piezoelectric ceramic composition comprising:

a matrix material comprising at least two matrix components having a perovskite structure;

a first matrix component being selected from (Bi 0.5 A 0.5 )EO 3 and BaEO 3 ; and

a further matrix component being Bi(Me 0.5 E 0.5 )O 3 ,

wherein A is selected from an alkali metal, particularly sodium or potassium, or a mixture of alkali metals;

wherein E is independently selected from titanium, zirconium and mixtures of titanium and zirconium;

wherein Me is selected from bivalent metals; and

wherein the additive is selected from transition metal oxides, particularly MnO, CuO and ZnO.

15. The piezoelectric ceramic composition according to claim 14 , wherein the matrix material consists of said at least two matrix components having the perovskite structure.

16. A method for preparing the piezoelectric ceramic composition according to claim 1 , comprising the steps of:

A) providing powders of metal salts of the metals contained in the first matrix component and any further matrix component or additive comprised in the ceramic composition, wherein the anions of the metal salts are selected from oxygen, anions that allow the metal salt to be at least partially convertible or converted into oxides upon calcination and mixtures thereof, wherein further the content of the raw particles is chosen according to the stoichiometry of the formula for the corresponding component or additive; and

B) shape forming and sintering of the obtained mixture.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein between step A) and step B) the following step is carried out:

C) calcining the mixture of powders provided in step A).

18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the metal salts are selected from oxides, hydroxides, carbonates, nitrates, and hydrates.

19. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the sintering is carried out at temperatures between 950° C. and 1200° C.

20. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the sintering is carried out at temperatures between 1000° C. and 1150° C.

21. An electrical component comprising a piezoelectric ceramic composition according to claim 1 .