Crystal facet tailoring: a promising pathway toward high-performance Y2/3Cu3Ti4O12 thermosensitive ceramics

Abstract

Y_2/3Cu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (YCTO) thermosensitive ceramics with high-sensitivity and fast-response characteristics have potential applications in the next generation of smart electronic devices. However, the narrow response temperature region and instability at high temperatures are problems that need to be urgently solved. Herein, we proposed a strategy of crystal facet tailoring using a bioprotein method. We utilized natural coconut water as a chelating agent to customize the {110} crystal facets of YCTO grains. The transformation of {hkl} crystal facets is the key to optimizing the thermosensitive properties of YCTO ceramics. This tailoring behavior can be understood as the result of the synergistic effect of the thermodynamic and kinetic mechanisms of crystal growth. Active ions in coconut water can compensate for cationic defects in the YCTO lattice and play a positive role in improving sintering activity, crystallinity and electrical properties. In addition, the dense microstructure and suppression of the double-exchange effect of ion pairs are important topics to prevent resistivity drift. This work can provide a reference for the modification of thermosensitive materials via crystal facet engineering.