KNN (potassium sodium niobate) has emerged as the most promising lead-free alternative to PZT. Regulatory requirements under EU chemical regulations, including RoHS and REACH, are driving growing demand for piezoelectric materials that eliminate lead from device manufacturing. KNN offers piezoelectric performance comparable to PZT while meeting these environmental standards, making it a viable path for customers who need to access regulated markets without sacrificing device capability. Silex is actively developing KNN process integration, including ion beam etching through a partnership with SCIA Systems and in-house reactive ion etching on its 200 mm platform. This helps position KNN as a genuinely scalable lead-free alternative alongside its established PZT offering. While KNN integration involves additional process complexity, particularly in patterning and etching, this is precisely the kind of challenge that a dedicated foundry partner is best placed to solve.
