Ultrahigh piezoelectricity and temperature stability in piezoceramics by synergistic design

Piezoceramics with both high piezoelectric properties and broad temperature usage range are highly in demand for sensor and actuator applications. Unfortunately, the trade-off relationship between two properties poses a significant challenge that remains unresolved. Herein, through combined phase boundary engineering and process engineering, we report the simultaneous achievements of substantially enhanced piezoelectric coefficient d33 (from 784 pC/N to 855 pC/N) and piezoelectric strain d33* (from 620 pm/V to 860 pm/V), and ultrahigh temperature stability (i.e., d33 and d33* change less than 7.3% and 4.6% over 25-175 °C, respectively) in Pb0.92Ba0.08[Zr0.50+xTi0.48-x(Nb0.5Sb0.5)0.02]O3 (x = 0.4) ceramics, superior to those of other typical piezoceramics. The enhanced piezoelectricity and excellent temperature stability are attributed to three synergistic effects, namely, morphotropic phase boundary concomitant with nano-domains, reduced pores, and inhibited oxygen vacancies. Therefore, our proposed strategy provides a new paradigm to boost both piezoelectricity and its temperature stability and is beneficial to both academia and industry. There is a long-standing trade-off between high piezoelectricity and good temperature stability for piezoceramics. Here, authors combine phase boundary engineering and process engineering to relieve this relationship in (Pb, Zr) TiO3 piezoceramics.