Electric field induced polarization and strain of Bi-based ceramic composites

The ferroelectric properties and strain behaviors of 0-3-type-ceramic composites were investigated. (100-x)Bi0.5(Na0.75K0.25)TiO3-xBiAlO3 (x = 5, 6, and 7: abbreviated as 95BNKT-5BA, 94BNKT-6BA, and 93BNKT-7BA, respectively, and the three compositions are altogether designated as BNKT-BA) were chosen as a matrix materials, and ferroelectric Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 (f-BNT), Bi0.5(Na0.8K0.2)0.5TiO3 (f-BNKT), and 98.5Bi0.5(Na0.8K0.2)0.5TiO3-1.5BiAlO3 (f-BNKTBA) grains as inclusions. Large f-BNT, f-BNKT, and f-BNKTBA grains strongly affect the ferroelectric properties and strain behaviors of the BNKT-BA matrix in the composite. In 95BNKT-5BA with f-BNT and f-BNKT, negative strain was observed, indicating that the ferroelectric phase is formed and stabilized. 93BNKT-7BA with f-BNT, f-BNKT and f-BNKTBA showed an increase in positive strain, which is associated with low field-induced phase transition. It was found from the strain curve that two contributions, ferroelectric phase stabilization and phase transition activation, were involved in the strain behaviors of the ceramic composites.