Giant piezoelectricity and ultrahigh strain response in bismuth sodium titanate lead-free ceramics

The obvious conflicts between large piezoelectricity and high strain could be solved by adding new components in BNT. Moreover, this urgent problem has been solved and induced a large strain as well as a high piezoelectricity in BNT. Large normalized strain (d33*=526–597pm/V) and high strain (0.342%–0.388%) were achieved at the composition range of 0.0025≤x≤0.0050, suggesting that such a system is a promising lead-free candidate for electromechanical actuator applications. Furthermore, high d33 values of 141–204pC/N have also been attained at the above composition range due to adding new components. •The BNBT-x SZMO with appropriated SZMO exhibited optimum electrical properties.•It has a relatively high strain S of 0.388%.•It exhibits high Smax/Emax=597pm/V and large d33=141pC/N at x=0.005.•Modified sample has great potential for actuator and multifunctional device applications.