Premium
Large Piezoelectricity in Ternary Lead‐Free Single Crystals
Author(s) -
Wang Yaojin,
Luo Chengtao,
Wang Shuhao,
Chen Chao,
Yuan Guoliang,
Luo Haosu,
Viehland Dwight
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced electronic materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.25
H-Index - 56
ISSN - 2199-160X
DOI - 10.1002/aelm.201900949
Subject(s) - piezoelectricity , materials science , phase boundary , piezoelectric coefficient , ternary operation , ferroelectricity , phase (matter) , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , dielectric , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , computer science , programming language
Since industry‐standard piezoelectric materials, such as lead zirconium titanate ceramics, contain toxic lead, a rapid surge in research on lead‐free piezoelectric materials is occurring due to concerns over environmental safety and human health. A ternary lead‐free (Na 0.5 Bi 0.5 )TiO 3 ‐BaTiO 3 ‐(K 0.5 Na 0.5 )NbO 3 single crystal with a large field induced strain of ≈0.9% and a giant piezoelectric coefficient d 33 of 840 pC N −1 at room temperature is reported. It is revealed that the electric‐field‐induced phase transition and phase boundary between energetically comparable polar states (i.e., R 3c and P 4mm) play an important role in achieving the ultrahigh piezoelectricity. Transmission electron microscopy and scan probe microscopy are employed to verify the weak‐polar ferroelectric R 3c and P 4bm structure in the ground state. These unprecedentedly high piezoelectric properties make lead‐free ternary single crystals a leading candidate for piezoelectric‐based device applications, especially toward the era of smart homes and implantable medical devices.