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The doping effect of (Na0.5K0.5)NbO3 (NKN) as alternatives for rare-earth elements on the electrical properties of BaTiO3 has been investigated, in terms of their substitution behavior. The dielectric constant of a specimen with x=0.05 was about 79% higher than that of pure BaTiO3, and the temperature coefficient of capacitance was satisfied by the X7R specification. The specimen with x=0.05 showed the lowest tetragonality among the four compositions and had a fine grain size of <2 μm. Although the addition of NKN decreased the specimen's tetragonality, the electrical properties were enhanced by the formation of defect dipoles and conduction electrons, which resulted from an acceptor and donor substitution behavior. Through O K-edge near edge x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, the practical substitution behavior was defined by the change in Ti 3d orbital states. The energy separation of the Ti 3d orbitals was more apparent with the specimen of x=0.05, which is related to the donor level from the donor substitution of Nb5+ ion for Ti-sites. Therefore, the simultaneous substitution of Na+/K+ and Nb5+ ions into BaTiO3 can improve dielectric properties, based on the charge-transfer process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]