Electro-shape-memory effect in Mn-doped (Pb, Sr)TiO₃ ceramics

Electric-field-induced strain behavior of 0.5 mol% Mn-doped (Pb_0.4, Sr_0.6)TiO₃ ceramics was studied in this paper. Through utilizing a new mechanism, which is point-defect-mediated domain switching, a double hysteresis and relatively large recoverable strain of 0.1% at 3000 V/mm were obtained from the samples after aging at room temperature. This behavior can be considered as a new kind of shape memory effect due to the reversibility and the 'digital-like' jump in electrostrain, which is controlled by electric field. The present result suggests that utilizing domain-switching can be a new way to improve the performance of the electrostrain effect of Pb-based ceramics.