Abstract
For the sake of excellent strain performance for actuator application, Sn-modified Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3–Bi0.5K0.5TiO3 (BNT–BKT) ceramics were designed and prepared by solid-state reaction method. The crystal structures and microstructures of Bi0.5(Na0.75K0.25)0.5(Ti1−xSnx)O3 (abbreviated as BNKT–xSn, x = 0, 0.02, 0.05, 0.08) were systematically investigated together with their strain performance. It is found that all the compositions possessed a single perovskite structure phase by X-ray diffraction patterns. With increasing Sn content, the ferroelectric phase with mainly tetragonal structure gradually transformed into the ergodic relaxor phase in pseudocubic structure with nanodomains further confirmed by high-resolution transmission electron microscope images. Both the P–E and I–E loops confirmed this structural change and the coexistence of ferroelectric phase and ergodic relaxor phase at x = 0.02, where a large strain of 0.37% was achieved with low hysteresis (21.8%). By analyzing the bipolar and unipolar strain curves and the origin of strain, we believe that the large strain is contributed to the phase transition from ferroelectric phase into ergodic relaxor phase, and the low hysteresis is beneficial from the existence of ergodic relaxor phase, which should pave a way for future developing high-performance actuators.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Jo W, Dittmer R, Acosta M, Zang J, Groh C, Sapper E, Wang K, Rödel J (2012) Giant electric-field-induced strains in lead-free ceramics for actuator applications-status and perspective. J Electroceram 29(1):71–93
Rödel J, Webber KG, Dittmer R, Jo W, Kimura M, Damjanovic D (2015) Transferring lead-free piezoelectric ceramics into application. J Eur Ceram Soc 35(6):1659–1681
Fan PY, Zhang YY, Xie B, Zhu YW, Ma WG, Wang C (2018) Large electric-field-induced strain in B-site complex-ion (Fe0.5Nb0.5)4+-doped Bi1/2(Na0.82K0.12)1/2TiO3 lead-free piezoceramics, Ceram Int 44(3):3211–3217
Wu L, Shen B (2017) Giant electromechanical strain response in lead-free SrTiO3-doped (Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3–BaTiO3)–LiNbO3 piezoelectric ceramics. J Am Ceram Soc 100(10):4670–4679
Zheng T, Wu J, Xiao D, Zhu J (2018) Recent development in lead-free perovskite piezoelectric bulk materials. Prog Mater Sci 98:552–624
Yin J, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Wu B, Wu J (2018) Thermal depolarization regulation by oxides selection in lead-free BNT/oxides piezoelectric composites. Acta Mater 158:269–277
Yin J, Zhang Y, Lv X, Wu J (2018) Ultrahigh energy-storage potential under low electric field in bismuth sodium titanate-based perovskite ferroelectrics. J Mater Chem A 6:9823–9832
Yin J, Zhao C, Zhang Y, Wu J (2018) Ultrahigh strain in site engineering-independent Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-based relaxor-ferroelectrics. Acta Mater 147:70–77
Li L, Zhang J, Wang R-X, Zheng M, Hou Y, Zhang H, Zhang S-T, Zhu M (2019) Thermally-stable large strain in Bi(Mn0.5Ti0.5)O3 modified 0.8Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-0.2Bi0.5K0.5TiO3 ceramics. J Eur Ceram Soc 39(5):1827–1836
Liu X, Tan X (2016) Giant strains in non-textured (Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3-based lead-free ceramics. Adv Mater 28(3):574–578
Zhao NS, Fan HQ, Ma JW (2018) Large strain of temperature insensitive in (1-x)(0.94Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-0.06BaTiO3)-xSr0.7La0.2TiO3 lead-free ceramics, Ceram Int l44(10):11331-11339
Morozov MI, Damjanovic D (2010) Charge migration in Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 ceramics and its relation to ageing, hardening, and softening. J Appl Phys 107(3):034106
Hao JG, Xu ZJ, Chu RQ, Li W, Du J (2015) Large electric-field-induced strain in SrZrO3 modified Bi0.5(Na0.80K0.20)0.5TiO3 lead-free electromechanical ceramics with fatigue-resistant behavior. J Alloys Compd 647:857–865
Jo W, Daniels JE, Jones JL, Tan XL, Thomas PA, Damjanovic D, Rödel J (2011) Evolving morphotropic phase boundary in lead-free (Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3–BaTiO3 piezoceramics. J Appl Phys 109(1):014110
Pan H, Zhang J, Jia X, Xing H, He J, Wang J, Wen F (2018) Large electrostrictive effect and high optical temperature sensing in Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3–BaTiO3–(Sr0.7Bi0.18Er0.02)TiO3 luminescent ferroelectrics. Ceram Int 44(5):5785–5789
Bai W, Wang L, Zheng P, Wen F, Yuan Y, Ding M, Chen D, Zhai J, Ji Z (2018) Large electrostrictive effect in lead-free (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-based composite piezoceramics. Ceram Int 44(7):8628–8634
Han HS, Jo W, Kang JK, Ahn CW, Kim IW, Ahn KK, Lee JS (2013) ) Incipient piezoelectrics and electrostriction behavior in Sn-doped Bi0.5(Na0.82K0.18)0.5TiO3 lead-free ceramics. J Appl Phys 113(15):154102
Lee JS, Pham KN, Han HS, Lee HB, Vu DNT (2012) Strain enhancement of lead-free Bi0.5(Na0.82K0.18)0.5TiO3 ceramics by Sn doping. J Korean Phys Soc 60(2):212–215
Yuan R, Liu Z, Balachandran PV, Xue D, Zhou Y, Ding X, Sun J, Xue D (2018) Accelerated discovery of large electrostrains in BaTiO3-Based piezoelectrics using active learning. Adv Mater 30(7):1702884
Hiruma Y, Nagata H, Takenaka T (2007) Phase-transition temperatures and piezoelectric properties of (Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3–(Bi1/2Li1/2)TiO3–(Bi1/2K1/2)TiO3 lead-free ferroelectric ceramics. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control 54(12):2493–2499
Ullah A, Ahn CW, Hussain A, Lee SY, Kim IW (2011) ) Phase transition, electrical properties, and temperature-insensitive large strain in BiAlO3-Modified Bi0.5(Na0.75K0.25)0.5TiO3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics. J Am Ceram Soc 94(11):3915–3921
Jones GO, Kreisel J (2002) A structural study of the (Na1−xKx)0.5Bi0.5TiO3 perovskite series as a function of substitution (x) and temperature. Powder Diffr 17(04):301–319
Tai CW, Choy SH (2008) Ferroelectric domain morphology evolution and octahedral tilting in lead-free (Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3–(Bi1/2K1/2)TiO3–(Bi1/2Li1/2)TiO3–BaTiO3 ceramics at different temperatures. J Am Ceram Soc 91(10):3335–3341
Chandrasekhar M, Jayarao G, Khatua DK, Kumar P (2019) Effect of NaNbO3 addition on structure, dielectric and energy storage properties of lead free piezoelectric Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3–K0.5Na0.5NbO3 ceramics. Ceram Int 45(2):1969–1976
Qian H, Yu ZL, Mao MM, Liu YF, Lyu YN (2017) Nanoscale origins of small hysteresis and remnant strain in Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-based lead-free ceramics. J Eur Ceram Soc 37(11):3483–3491
Shvartsman VV, Lupascu DC (2012) Lead-free relaxor ferroelectrics. J Am Ceram Soc 95(1):1–26
Samara GA (2003) The relaxational properties of compositionally disordered ABO3 perovskites. J Phys: Condens Matter 15(9):R367–411
Sapper E, Schaab S, Jo W, Granzow T, Rödel J (2012) Influence of electric fields on the depolarization temperature of Mn doped (1−x)(Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3–xBaTiO3. J Appl Phys 111(1):014105
Hiruma Y, Nagata H, Takenaka T (2009) Thermal depoling process and piezoelectric properties of bismuth sodium titanate ceramics. J Appl Phys 105(8):084112
Zhang S-T, Kounga AB, Aulbach E, Jo W, Granzow T, Ehrenberg H, Rodel J (2008) Lead-free piezoceramics with giant strain in the system Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3–BaTiO3–K0.5Na0.5NbO3. II. Temperature dependent properties. J Appl Phys 103:034108
Yan H, Inam F, Viola G, Ning H, Zhang H, Jiang Q, Zeng T, Gao Z, Reece MJ (2011) The contribution of electrical conductivity, dielectric permittivity and domain switching in ferroelectric hysteresis loops. J Adv Dielectr 1(1):107–118
Xie H, Yang L, Pang SJ, Yuan CL, Chen GH, Wang H, Zhou CR, Xu JW (2019) The evolution of phase structure, dielectric, strain, and energy storage density of complex-ions (Sr1/3Nb2/3)4+ doped 0.82Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3–0.18Bi0.5K0.5TiO3 ceramics. J Phys Chem Solids 126:287–293
Li L, Zhu M, Wei Q, Zheng M, Hou Y, Hao J (2018) Ferroelectric P4mm to relaxor P4bm transition and temperature-insensitive large strains in Bi(Mg0.5Ti0.5)O3-modified tetragonal 0.875Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3–0.125BaTiO3 lead-free ferroelectric ceramics. J Eur Ceram Soc 38(4):1381–1388
Zhao W, Zuo R, Zheng D, Li L (2014) Dielectric relaxor evolution and frequency-insensitive giant strains in (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-modified Bi(Mg0.5Ti0.5)O3–PbTiO3 ferroelectric ceramics. J Am Ceram Soc 97(6):1855–1860
Li T, Lou X, Ke X, Cheng S, Mi S, Wang X, Shi J, Liu X, Dong G, Fan H, Wang Y, Tan X (2017) Giant strain with low hysteresis in A-site-deficient (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-based lead-free piezoceramics. Acta Mater 128:337–344
Jo W, Granzow T, Aulbach E, Rodel J, Damjanovic D (2009) Origin of the large strain response in (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3-modified (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-BaTiO3 lead-free piezoceramics. J Appl Phys 105:094102
Bai WF, Bian YL, Hao JG, Shen B, Zhai JW (2013) The composition and temperature-dependent structure evolution and large strain response in (1−x)(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3–xBa(Al0.5Ta0.5)O3 ceramics. J Am Ceram Soc 96(1):246–252
Bai WF, Li P, Li LY, Zhang JJ, Shen B, Zhai JW (2015) Structure evolution and large strain response in BNT–BT lead-free piezoceramics modified with Bi(Ni0.5Ti0.5)O3. J Alloys Compd 649:772–781
Du J, An F, Xu ZJ, Cheng RF, Chu RQ, Yi XJ, Hao JG, Li W (2016) Effects of BiFe0.5Ta0.5O3 addition on electrical properties of K0.5Na0.5NbO3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics. Ceram Int 42(1):1943–1949
Hussain A, Ahn CW, Lee JS, Ullah A, Kim IW (2010) Large electric-field-induced strain in Zr-modified lead-free Bi0.5(Na0.78K0.22)0.5TiO3 piezoelectric ceramics. Sens Actuators A 158(1):84–89
Rout SK, Chauhan V, Kushvaha DK, Sinha E, Hussain A, Tiwari B (2018) Impact of multiple phases on ferroelectric and piezoelectric performances of BNKT–BZT ceramic. J Mater Sci-Mater Electron 29(22):19524–19531
Dinh TH, Bafandeh MR, Kang J-K, Hong C-H, Jo W, Lee J-S (2015) Comparison of structural, ferroelectric, and strain properties between A-site donor and acceptor doped Bi1/2(Na0.82K0.18)1/2TiO3 ceramics. Ceram Int 41(S1):S458–S463
Wang K, Yao FZ, Jo W, Gobeljic D, Shvartsman VV, Lupascu DC, Li JF, Rödel J (2013) Temperature-insensitive (K, Na)NbO3-based lead-free piezoactuator ceramics. Adv Funct Mater 23(33):4079–4086
Wu B, Ma J, Wu W, Chen M, Wu H (2018) Balanced development in piezoelectricity and curie temperature of the alkaline niobate-based ceramics. J Mater Sci-Mater Electron 29(8):6844–6852
Zhu Y, Zhang Y, Xie B, Fan P, Marwat MA, Ma W, Wang C, Yang B, Xiao J, Zhang H (2018) Large electric field-induced strain in AgNbO3-modified 0.76Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3–0.24SrTiO3 lead-free piezoceramics. Ceram Int 44(7):7851–7857
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (51602147) and Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China (16KJB430017).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors and the institutes where the work has been carried out declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Xi, H., Yu, L., Qian, H. et al. Large strain with low hysteresis in Sn-modified Bi0.5(Na0.75K0.25)0.5TiO3 lead-free piezoceramics. J Mater Sci 55, 1388–1398 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-019-04154-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-019-04154-8