Composition-driven normal ferroelectric to relaxor ferroelectric transition with enhanced electrostriction in ternary NBT-BZ-LT ceramics

Abstract The NBT based perovskite ferroelectric oxides with high electrostrictive coefficient ( Q 33 ) is gaining attention due to their application in high-precision displacement actuators. Herein, (1 −2 x )Na 0.5 Bi 0.5 TiO 3 – x BaZrO 3 – x LaTiO 3 (0.01 ≤ x ≤ 0.07) ceramics are produced through a solid-state reaction. X-ray diffraction is used for the structural analysis of the prepared ceramic materials. The influences of BaZrO 3 and LaTiO 3 on the piezoelectric and electrostrictive properties in Na 0.5 Bi 0.5 TiO 3 solid solutions is thoroughly investigated using the dielectric spectra, ferroelectric hysteresis loops, and bipolar strain curves. An electrostrictive coefficient Q 33 of 0.0557 m 4 /C 2 is obtained at x = 0.05, with a moderate S–E hysteresis of 26 % at an electric field of 60 kV cm −1 . These results indicate that (1 −2 x )Na 0.5 Bi 0.5 TiO 3 – x BaZrO 3 – x LaTiO 3 ferroelectric ceramics at x = 0.05 could be a promising material for high-precision displacement actuator applications.