Large strain response in PZT-PZN-PAN lead-based ceramics

Solid solutions of 0.8Pb(Zr 0.52 Ti 0.48 )O 3 -(0.2- x )Pb(Zn 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3- x Pb(Al 1/2 Nb 1/2 )O 3 (PZT-PZN-PAN, PZT-PZN- x PAN) with x from 0 to 0.1 were fabricated and the dielectric, ferroelectric, piezoelectric properties were investigated in detail. Results show the crystal structure changes from coexists of tetragonal and rhombohedral to single rhombohedral phase. At a critical composition of 0.02, a maximum quasi-static piezoelectric coefficient d 33 (410 pC/N) was obtained. Furthermore, it is found that the increment of PAN content could lead to increase the strain of PZT-PZN- x PAN ceramics, and a large strain response of ~0.24% with normalized strain S max / E max as high as 767 pm/V was obtained for the PZT-PZN-0.1PAN under a low electric field of ~3 kV/mm, which makes it a promising material for solid-state actuator applications.