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Excellent hardening effect in lead-free piezoceramics by embedding local Cu-doped defect dipoles in phase boundary engineering

Author

Listed:
  • Xinyue Qiu

    (Sichuan University)

  • Chao Wu

    (Sichuan University)

  • Daniel Q. Tan

    (Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology)

  • Ruihong Liang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Chen Liu

    (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology)

  • Yinchang Ma

    (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology)

  • Xi-xiang Zhang

    (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology)

  • Shiyang Wei

    (Lanzhou University)

  • Junwei Zhang

    (Lanzhou University)

  • Zhi Tan

    (Sichuan University)

  • Zhipeng Wang

    (Xidian University)

  • Xiang Lv

    (Sichuan University)

  • Jiagang Wu

    (Sichuan University
    Sichuan University)

Abstract

Piezoceramics for high-power applications require both high piezoelectric coefficient (d33) and mechanical quality factor (Qm). However, the trade-off between them poses a significant challenge in achieving high values simultaneously, which is more prominent in lead-free piezoceramics. Here, we propose a new strategy, local Cu-acceptor defect dipoles embedded orthorhombic-tetragonal phase boundary engineering (O-T PBE), to balance d33 and Qm in potassium sodium niobate piezoceramics. This is validated in 0.95(K0.48Na0.52)NbO3-0.05(Bi0.5Na0.5)HfO3-0.2%molFe2O3-xmol%CuO ceramics. Our strategy simultaneously maintains the O-T PBE and introduces local dimeric $${({{Cu}}_{{Nb}}^{{\prime} {\prime} {\prime} }-{V}_{O}^{\bullet \bullet })}^{{\prime} }$$ ( C u N b ″ ′ − V O ∙ ∙ ) ′ and trimeric $${\left({V}_{O}^{\bullet \bullet }-{{Cu}}_{{Nb}}^{{\prime} {\prime} {\prime} }-{V}_{O}^{\bullet \bullet }\right)}^{\bullet }$$ V O ∙ ∙ − C u N b ″ ′ − V O ∙ ∙ ∙ defects. The dimeric defects form defect dipole polarization that pins domain wall motion, while the trimeric ones introduce the local structural heterogeneity that leads to nano-scale multi-phase coexistence and abundant nano-domains. Encouragingly, for the Cu-doped sample with x = 1, Qm increases by a factor of 4, but d33 only decreases by 1/5 (i.e., achieving a d33 of 340 pC/N and a Qm of 256). Our research provides a new paradigm for balancing d33 and Qm in lead-free piezoceramics, which holds promise for high-power applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Xinyue Qiu & Chao Wu & Daniel Q. Tan & Ruihong Liang & Chen Liu & Yinchang Ma & Xi-xiang Zhang & Shiyang Wei & Junwei Zhang & Zhi Tan & Zhipeng Wang & Xiang Lv & Jiagang Wu, 2025. "Excellent hardening effect in lead-free piezoceramics by embedding local Cu-doped defect dipoles in phase boundary engineering," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-58269-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58269-5
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