Synthesis of potassium-sodium niobate powder in water vapor for piezoelectric ceramics manufacturing

In this work, for the first time, single-phase potassium-sodium niobate powder with a primary particle size of 0.3–3.1 $\mu$m was synthesized in a water vapor medium at a temperature of 260$^\circ$C and a pressure of 4.69 MPa. Two different techniques, the traditional one and laser stereolithography, were applied to produce powder-based ceramics with a density reaching 80–85% of the theoretical value. A set of the most important piezoelectric characteristics was studied for the prepared ceramics. The obtained preliminary results indicated the prospect of improving the phase, structural, and piezoelectric properties of potassium-sodium niobate ceramics by controlling the parameters of powder synthesis in water vapor and enhancement of the sintering conditions.