Large electric-field-induced strain and enhanced piezoelectric constant in CuO-modified BiFeO3-BaTiO3 ceramics

In this work, we fabricated the (1-x)BiFeO3-xBaTiO(3)+y parts per thousand mol CuO ceramics by the modified thermal quenching technique. The pure perovskite phase was formed and a morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) was observed in the ceramics with x=0.30-0.33. The addition of CuO can significantly enhance the density of the BiFeO3-BaTiO3 material. Importantly, an enhanced piezoelectric constant (d(33)=165 pC/N), a large electric-field-induced strain (S=0.54%: peak to peak strain) and a large piezoelectric actuator constant (d(33)*=449pm/V) together with a high Curie temperature (T-C) of 503 degrees C were observed in the ceramics with x=0.30 and y=5. As a result, the enhanced piezoelectricity and large electric-field-induced strain could significantly stimulate further researches in BFO-based ceramics.