Temperature-Insensitive High Strain in Lead-Free Bi0.5(Na0.84K0.16)0.5TiO3-0.04SrTiO3 Ceramics for Actuator Applications

Lead‐free piezoelectric ceramics, 0.96[{Bi0.5 (Na0.84K0.16)0.5}1−xLix(Ti1−yNby)O3]–0.04SrTiO3 (BNKLiTN–ST) with x, y = 0–0.030, were synthesized by solid‐state reaction method. X‐ray diffraction patterns indicated that Li and Nb successfully diffused into the BNKT–ST lattice and formed a pure perovskite structure with x, y ≤ 0.025. Increasing the Li and Nb contents (x, y = 0.020) induced a phase transformation from the coexistent rhombohedral–tetragonal phases for pure BNKT–ST ceramics to a pseudocubic phase, resulting in degradation of the remnant polarization and coercive field. However, the field‐induced strain was markedly enhanced at x, y = 0.020, giving rise to a giant dynamic piezoelectric constant (d33* = Smax/Emax = 800 pm/V). Furthermore, the temperature dependence of the field‐induced strain response showed temperature‐insensitivity up to 120°C. To explore its potential for device applications, a 10‐layered stack‐type multilayer actuator was fabricated from the optimal composition (x, y = 0.020). This actuator showed a large Smax/Emax of 600 pm/V at a relatively low driving field of 4.5 kV/mm suggesting highly promising results in lead‐free BNT‐based ceramics.