Optimized strain performance in <001>-textured Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-based ceramics with ergodic relaxor state and core—shell microstructure

Abstract Herein, a high strain of ∼0.3% with small hysteresis 43% is achieved at low electric field 4 kV/mm in the highly <001>-textured 0.97(0.76Bi 0.5 Na TiO 3 −0.24SrTiO )−0.03NaNbO (BNT−ST−0.03NN) ceramics an ergodic relaxor (ER) state, leading to large normalized ( d 33 *) 720 pm/V. The introduction NN templates into BNT−ST induces grain orientation growth and enhances ergodicity. BNT−ST−0.03NN display pure state coexisted ferroelectric $$R\bar 3c$$ R 3 ¯ c antiferroelectric P4bm polar nanoregions (PNRs) on nanoscale. Moreover, due incomplete interdiffusion between template matrix, textured present core-shell structure core, thus BNT-based matrix owns more PNRs relative homogeneous nontextured samples. <001> crystallographic texture both facilitate relaxor-to-ferroelectric transition, low-field-driven strain, while ensures hysteresis. Furthermore, * value remains up 518 pm/V 100 °C ultra-low 6%.