The mechanism for the enhanced piezoelectricity in multi-elements doped (K,Na)NbO3 ceramics

Xiaoyi Gao, Zhenxiang Cheng, Zibin Chen, Yao Liu, Xiangyu Meng, Xu Zhang, Jianli Wang, Qinghu Guo, Bei Li, Huajun Sun, Qinfen Gu, Hua Hao, Qiang Shen, Jinsong Wu, Xiaozhou Liao, Simon P. Ringer, Hanxing Liu, Lianmeng Zhang, Wen Chen, Fei LiShujun Zhang

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

130 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

(K,Na)NbO3 based ceramics are considered to be one of the most promising lead-free ferroelectrics replacing Pb(Zr,Ti)O3. Despite extensive studies over the last two decades, the mechanism for the enhanced piezoelectricity in multi-elements doped (K,Na)NbO3 ceramics has not been fully understood. Here, we combine temperature-dependent synchrotron x-ray diffraction and property measurements, atomic-scale scanning transmission electron microscopy, and first-principle and phase-field calculations to establish the dopant–structure–property relationship for multi-elements doped (K,Na)NbO3 ceramics. Our results indicate that the dopants induced tetragonal phase and the accompanying high-density nanoscale heterostructures with low-angle polar vectors are responsible for the high dielectric and piezoelectric properties. This work explains the mechanism of the high piezoelectricity recently achieved in (K,Na)NbO3 ceramics and provides guidance for the design of high-performance ferroelectric ceramics, which is expected to benefit numerous functional materials.

Original languageEnglish
Article number881
JournalNature Communications
Volume12
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2021
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Physics and Astronomy

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