Temperature-insensitive strain response in Bi(Zn_1/2Ti_1/2)O₃–PbZrO₃–PbTiO₃ ferroelectric ceramics simultaneously with low hysteresis for high-precision actuators application

Temperature stability and strain hysteresis are two extremely important parameters for high-precision piezoelectric actuators applications. Piezoelectric ceramics with high temperature stability and low strain hysteresis are eagerly expected. In this work, the strain characteristics of xBi(Zn_1/2Ti_1/2)O₃-(1-x)(0.55PbZrO₃-0.45PbTiO₃) [xBZT-(1-x)(PZ-PT)] ferroelectric ceramics were investigated meticulously, and temperature-insensitive strain response and low strain hysteresis were simultaneously acquired at x = 0.15. The strain variation was less than 10% in the temperature range of 30–100 °C and the strain hysteresis was only 6% at 7 kV/mm. The incorporation of BZT transforms the crystal structure of PZ-PT ceramics from morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) to tetragonal phase. Strong relaxation behaviors occurred and a large piezoelectric coefficient of 500 p.m./V at 2 kV/mm were obtained at x = 0.15. The above merits will make this ferroelectric ceramic an ideal material for the fabrication of high-precision actuators and their use in harsh environment conditions.