Bi(Zn0.5Ti0.5)O3 induced domain evolution and its effect on electrical property and thermal stability of 0.8Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-0.2Bi0.5K0.5TiO3 ceramics.

0.8Na 0.5 Bi 0.5 TiO 3 -(0.2- x)K 0.5 Bi 0.5 TiO 3 - x Bi(Zn 0.5 Ti 0.5)O 3 (NBT-KBT-BZT, x = 0–0.05 with interval of 0.01) lead-free piezoceramics were prepared and investigated. The addition of BZT has not led to deviation of rhombohedral-tetragonal morphotropic phase boundary, but apparently composition-dependent electrical property and monotonously improved thermal stability. The x = 0.02 has the optimal electrical property with remnant polarization, bipolar total strain, piezoelectric constant of 26.5 μC/cm2, 0.30%, 121 pC/N respectively, while the depolarization temperature is increased from 93 °C for x = 0–135 °C for x = 0.05 based on dielectric measurement. Detailed investigation reveals that the domain structure transforms from labyrinthian domain for x = 0 to coexistence of nanodomain and labyrinthian domain for x = 0.02, end up with large amount of nanodomain (x = 0.04). Such domain evolution should be responsible for the composition dependent electrical property and improved thermal stability. Our work confirms that domain engineering is an alternative method to develop high performance piezoelectric materials. • NBT-KBT-BZT lead-free piezoceramics have been prepared. • The piezoceramics show composition-dependent property and improved thermal stability. • Domain transforms from labyrinthian domain, coexisted nanodomain and labyrinthian domain, to nanodomain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]