Giant strain in lead-free (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-based single crystals

A giant electric-field-induced strain of 0.87% is reported for tetragonal (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-(Bi0.5K0.5)TiO3-BaTiO3 single crystals along the [100]cubic direction, which is six times as large as that of Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 ceramics. In situ x-ray diffraction measurements and transmission electron microscope observations show that the giant strain mainly originates from switching of nanosized 90° domains. Strain measurements indicate that the strain caused by the 90° domain switching is reversible for both unipolar and bipolar electric-field applications. The reversibility of the 90° domain switching can be explained by the interaction between the spontaneous polarization and the defect dipole composed of A-site vacancy and oxygen vacancy.