Flexoelectric polarization of barium strontium titanate in the paraelectric state

The strain-gradient-induced polarization (flexoelectric effect) was investigated in Ba0.67Sr0.33TiO3 (BST) ceramic at temperatures above the 21 °C Curie point. At 23 °C the flexoelectric coefficient μ12 was more than one order of magnitude greater than the highest value measured in lead magnesium niobate ceramic. Over the temperature range of linear Curie–Weiss behavior, the coefficient μ12 was roughly proportional to the dielectric permittivity; however, the constant of proportionality was higher than predicted for simple ionic solids. The unexpected behavior in the BST ceramic suggests the need for a broader database of flexoelectric coefficients.