Enhanced electric field-induced strain performance in 0-3 composite ceramics by strain and polarization coupling

Inferior electric field-induced strain and large hysteresis in the high-temperature (1-x)BiFeO3-xBaTiO3-based piezoceramics under low driving electric field, which restricts their practical applications, are dramatically technical bottlenecks. Herein, we successfully prepare the 0-3 type composite piezoceramics with super strain properties under a small electric field. Electric field-induced strain and normalized strain coefficient in the 0-3 composite piezoceramics have been severally increased by 161% and 215% than those of non-composite piezoceramics, and the hysteresis and remnant strain in the 0-3 composite piezoceramics have been decreased by 230% and 165% compared with non-composite piezoceramics. Superior electric field-induced strain properties originate from strain and polarization couple, promoting domain switching at low driving electric field, and the novel strategy will accelerate the development and practical applications of lead-free piezoelectric ceramics.