A synergistic approach to attain high piezoelectricity in a Pb(Ni, Nb)O3–Pb(Lu, Nb)O3–PbTiO3 system

Modern electronic devices are highly in demand for high-performance piezoelectric materials. Herein, Pb(Ni, Nb)O3–Pb(Lu, Nb)O3–PbTiO3 piezoelectric ceramics are investigated, among which the 0.52PNN–0.16PLN–0.32PT ceramic shows the best performance (d33 = 850 pC N−1, d33* = 1139 pm V−1). Excellent piezoelectricity can be explained by multiphase coexistence, as well as an enhanced local heterogeneous structure. Polar nanoregions that promote polarization rotation are an important cause of high piezoelectricity according to characterization using SEM and PFM. TEM also confirmed a heterogeneous domain configuration with two coexisting phases. In addition, a large signal piezoelectricity of 1000 pm V−1 is maintained in the temperature range of 20–90 °C. This work presents an excellent example of achieving both high piezoelectric properties and a good temperature range in relaxor ferroelectric ceramics.