Exceptional electrostrain with minimal hysteresis and superior temperature stability under low electric field in KNN-based lead-free piezoceramics

Huan Liu; Yijin Hao; Ziqi Yang; Tianyi Feng; Bin Su; Xin Zhang; Mengping Xue; Bo-Ping Zhang; Jing-Feng Li

doi:10.26599/JAC.2024.9220861

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Research Article | Open Access

Exceptional electrostrain with minimal hysteresis and superior temperature stability under low electric field in KNN-based lead-free piezoceramics

Huan Liu^{¹^,²}, Yijin Hao^¹, Ziqi Yang^²(

), Tianyi Feng^², Bin Su^², Xin Zhang^², Mengping Xue^¹, Bo-Ping Zhang^¹(

), Jing-Feng Li^²(

)

1Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of New Energy Materials and Technologies, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China

2State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

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Graphical Abstract

Abstract

Over the past two decades, (K_0.5Na_0.5)NbO₃ (KNN)-based lead-free piezoelectric ceramics have made significant progress. However, attaining a high electrostrain with remarkable temperature stability and minimal hysteresis under low electric fields has remained a significant challenge. To address this long-standing issue, we have employed a collaborative approach that combines defect engineering, phase engineering, and relaxation engineering. The LKNNS-6BZH ceramic, when sintered at T_sint = 1170 ℃, demonstrates an impressive electrostrain with a $d_{33}^{*}$ value of 0.276% and 1379 pm·V^–1 under 20 kV·cm^–1, which is comparable to or even surpasses that of other lead-free and Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃ ceramics. Importantly, the electrostrain performance of this ceramic remains stable up to a temperature of 125 ℃, with the lowest hysteresis observed at 9.73% under 40 kV·cm^–1. These excellent overall performances are attributed to the presence of defect dipoles involving $V_{A}^{^{'}} – V_{O}^{∙∙}$ and $B_{N b}^{^{'}} – V_{O}^{∙∙}$ , the coexistence of R–O–T multiphase, and the tuning of the trade-off between long-range ordering and local heterogeneity. This work provides a lead-free alternative for piezoelectric actuators and a paradigm for designing piezoelectric materials with outstanding comprehensive performance under low electric fields.

Keywords

lead-free piezoelectric ceramics potassium sodium niobate electrostrain temperature stability low hysteresis

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Journal of Advanced Ceramics

Volume 13 Issue 3,
March 2024

Pages 364-372

DOI: 10.26599/JAC.2024.9220861

Cite this article:

Liu H, Hao Y, Yang Z, et al. Exceptional electrostrain with minimal hysteresis and superior temperature stability under low electric field in KNN-based lead-free piezoceramics. Journal of Advanced Ceramics, 2024, 13(3): 364-372. https://doi.org/10.26599/JAC.2024.9220861

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Received: 18 December 2023

Revised: 23 January 2024

Accepted: 02 February 2024

Published: 29 March 2024

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).