@article{Liu2024, 
author = {Huan Liu and Yijin Hao and Ziqi Yang and Tianyi Feng and Bin Su and Xin Zhang and Mengping Xue and Bo-Ping Zhang and Jing-Feng Li},
title = {Exceptional electrostrain with minimal hysteresis and superior temperature stability under low electric field in KNN-based lead-free piezoceramics},
year = {2024},
journal = {Journal of Advanced Ceramics},
volume = {13},
number = {3},
pages = {364-372},
keywords = {lead-free piezoelectric ceramics, temperature stability, electrostrain, potassium sodium niobate, low hysteresis},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/JAC.2024.9220861},
doi = {10.26599/JAC.2024.9220861},
abstract = {Over the past two decades, (K0.5Na0.5)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 Tsint = 1170 ℃, demonstrates an impressive electrostrain with a  d33∗ 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  VA′–VO∙∙ and  BNb′–VO∙∙, 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.}
}