The structure, ferroelectric characteristics and piezoelectric properties of (Na0.5Bi0.5)(1 - x)BaxTiO3 (x = 0.04, 0.06, 0.10) ceramics prepared by conventional solid state method were investigated. The influences of poling condition and sintering temperature on the piezoelectric properties of the ceramics were examined. The piezoelectric properties of the ceramics highly depend on poling field and temperature, while no remarkable effect of poling time on the piezoelectric properties was found in the range of 5-25 min. Compared with (Na0.5Bi0.5)(0.96-) Ba0.04TiO3 and (Na0.5Bi0.5)(0.09)Ba0.10TiO3, the piezoelectric properties of (Na0.5Bi0.5)(0.94)Ba0.06TiO3 are more sensitive to poling temperature due to the relatively low depolarization temperature. Moderate increase of sintering temperature improved the poling process and piezoelectric properties due to the development of microstructural densification and crystal structure. With respect to sintering behavior and piezoelectric properties, a sintering temperature range of 1130-1160 degreesC was ascertained for (Na0.5Bi0.5)(0.09)Ba0.10TiO3. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.