High piezoelectric and mechanical performances in multiferroic (1−x−y)PbTiO3-xBi(Ni1/2Ti1/2)O3-yBiScO3

Abstract

A series of solid solutions (1−x−y)PbTiO₃-xBi(Ni_1/2Ti_1/2)O₃-yBiScO₃ were prepared to search for a high performance multifunctional ceramic material. Through contents tailoring, a compound at the morphotropic phase boundary 0.50PT-0.30BNT-0.20BS was found, which displays excellent ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties. The mechanical performances, hardness and fracture toughness of the highly compact ceramic are superior among the similar piezoceramics, and its thermal stability is great. The durability of the material is expected to be much increased in various applications. Ferromagnetism was observed in the solid solution due to the introduction of magnetic atoms, Ni, accounted for the superexchange interaction. This multiferroic material has promising applications due to its high piezoelectricity, superior mechanical performances and excellent thermal stability.