Large digital-characterized electrostrain in Mn-doped (Pb,Sr)TiO3 electro-shape-memory ceramics

In the present letter, we report that through a reversible domain switching mechanism, a large electro-shape-memory effect (up to 0.23% under the electric field of 5 kV/mm) is achieved in the aged Mn-doped (Pb,Sr)TiO3 ceramics. We also provide the microscopic understanding on the relationship between the strain (epsilon) and field (E) curve with aging phenomenon. Different from the common analogue response (linear converse piezoelectric effect), such electrostrain exhibits a digital characteristic and consequently enables a promising "on-off" application. Owing to the domain switching nature, the key parameters (e.g., maximum strain, coercive field and working temperature range) of the present electrostrain can be customized by changing the ratio of Pb/Sr and thus the ratio of c/a to facilitate the possible practical applications. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3632079]