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Volume 19
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10.3390/ma19020374
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Composition-Driven Ultra-Low Hysteresis Electrostrictive Strain in BaTiO3-BaZrO3-Bi(Zn2/3Nb1/3)O3 Ceramics with High Thermal Stability

by
Xuyi Yang
1,
Qinyi Chen
1,
Qilong Xiao
2,
Qiang Yang
2,
Wenjuan Wu
1,2,
Bo Wu
3,
Hong Tao
3,
Junjie Li
1,2,*,
Xing Zhang
1,2 and
Yi Guo
1,2
1
Information Materials and Device Applications Key Laboratory of Sichuan Provincial Universities, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu 610225, China
2
Optoelectronic Sensor Devices and Systems Key Laboratory of Sichuan Provincial Universities, College of Optoelectronic Engineering (Chengdu IC Valley Industrial College), Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu 610225, China
3
Sichuan Province Key Laboratory of Information Materials, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Materials 2026, 19(2), 374; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19020374 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 18 December 2025 / Revised: 8 January 2026 / Accepted: 15 January 2026 / Published: 16 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Advanced and Functional Ceramics and Glasses)
Versions Notes

Abstract

High electrostrain, excellent thermal stability, and low hysteresis are critical requirements for advanced high-precision actuators. However, simultaneously achieving these synergistic properties in lead-free ferroelectric ceramics remains a significant challenge. In this work, a targeted B-site doping strategy was employed to develop novel lead-free (0.99-x)BaTiO3-xBaZrO3-0.01Bi(Zn2/3Nb1/3)O3 (BT-xBZ-BZN, x = 0–0.2) ceramics. Systematic investigation identified optimal Zr4+ substitution at x = 0.1, which yielded an outstanding combination of electromechanical properties. For this optimal composition, a high unipolar electrostrain (Smax = 0.11%) was achieved at 50 kV/cm, accompanied by an ultra-low hysteresis (HS = 1.9%). Concurrently, a large electrostrictive coefficient (Q33 = 0.0405 m4/C2) was determined, demonstrating excellent thermal robustness with less than 10% variation across a broad temperature range of 30–120 °C. This superior comprehensive performance is attributed to a composition-driven evolution from a long-range ferroelectric to a pseudocubic relaxor state. In this state, the dominant electrostrictive effect, propelled by reversible dynamics of polar nanoregions (PNRs), minimizes irreversible domain switching. These findings not only present BT-xBZ-BZN (x = 0.1) as a highly promising lead-free candidate for high-precision, low-loss actuator devices, but also provide a viable design strategy for developing high-performance electrostrictive materials with synergistic large strain and superior thermal stability.
Keywords: barium titanate; electrostrictive; low hysteresis; thermal stability barium titanate; electrostrictive; low hysteresis; thermal stability

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Yang, X.; Chen, Q.; Xiao, Q.; Yang, Q.; Wu, W.; Wu, B.; Tao, H.; Li, J.; Zhang, X.; Guo, Y. Composition-Driven Ultra-Low Hysteresis Electrostrictive Strain in BaTiO3-BaZrO3-Bi(Zn2/3Nb1/3)O3 Ceramics with High Thermal Stability. Materials 2026, 19, 374. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19020374

AMA Style

Yang X, Chen Q, Xiao Q, Yang Q, Wu W, Wu B, Tao H, Li J, Zhang X, Guo Y. Composition-Driven Ultra-Low Hysteresis Electrostrictive Strain in BaTiO3-BaZrO3-Bi(Zn2/3Nb1/3)O3 Ceramics with High Thermal Stability. Materials. 2026; 19(2):374. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19020374

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yang, Xuyi, Qinyi Chen, Qilong Xiao, Qiang Yang, Wenjuan Wu, Bo Wu, Hong Tao, Junjie Li, Xing Zhang, and Yi Guo. 2026. "Composition-Driven Ultra-Low Hysteresis Electrostrictive Strain in BaTiO3-BaZrO3-Bi(Zn2/3Nb1/3)O3 Ceramics with High Thermal Stability" Materials 19, no. 2: 374. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19020374

APA Style

Yang, X., Chen, Q., Xiao, Q., Yang, Q., Wu, W., Wu, B., Tao, H., Li, J., Zhang, X., & Guo, Y. (2026). Composition-Driven Ultra-Low Hysteresis Electrostrictive Strain in BaTiO3-BaZrO3-Bi(Zn2/3Nb1/3)O3 Ceramics with High Thermal Stability. Materials, 19(2), 374. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19020374

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