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Domain wall motion and electromechanical strain in lead-free piezoelectrics: Insight from the model system (1 − x)Ba(Zr{sub 0.2}Ti{sub 0.8})O{sub 3}–x(Ba{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3})TiO{sub 3} using in situ high-energy X-ray diffraction during application of electric fields

Journal Article · · Journal of Applied Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4870934· OSTI ID:22273638
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611 (United States)
  2. Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616 (United States)
  3. Illinois Institute of Technology, Armour College of Engineering, Chicago, Illinois 60616 (United States)
The piezoelectric compositions (1 − x)Ba(Zr{sub 0.2}Ti{sub 0.8})O{sub 3}–x(Ba{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3})TiO{sub 3} (BZT-xBCT) span a model lead-free morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) between room temperature rhombohedral and tetragonal phases at approximately x = 0.5. In the present work, in situ X-ray diffraction measurements during electric field application are used to elucidate the origin of electromechanical strain in several compositions spanning the tetragonal compositional range 0.6 ≤ x ≤ 0.9. As BCT concentration decreases towards the MPB, the tetragonal distortion (given by c/a-1) decreases concomitantly with an increase in 90° domain wall motion. The increase in observed macroscopic strain is predominantly attributed to the increased contribution from 90° domain wall motion. The results demonstrate that domain wall motion is a significant factor in achieving high strain and piezoelectric coefficients in lead-free polycrystalline piezoelectrics.
OSTI ID:
22273638
Journal Information:
Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 14 Vol. 115; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English