Oxygen vacancy-induced strengthening and toughening in (K,Na)NbO₃-based piezoceramics revealed via nanoindentation.

ABSTRACT: Dislocations are emerging as a pivotal factor for tailoring ceramics' functional and mechanical properties. The introduction of point defects, notably oxygen vacancies, is unavoidable during the conventional sintering process in polycrystalline ceramics. Understanding the interplay between dislocations and oxygen vacancies is necessary for its profound implications. This work implements an innovative approach to regulate the dislocation-based incipient plasticity and creep behavior in (K_0.5Na_0.5)NbO₃-based ceramics through oxygen vacancy engineering via CuO "hard" doping. Nanoindentation pop-in tests reveal that increasing oxygen vacancy concentrations significantly promotes the nucleation and activation of dislocations. Theoretical calculations based on de

SUBMITTER: Zhang Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12313997 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature