Large field-induced strains in a lead-free piezoelectric material.
Piezoelectric materials exhibit a mechanical response to electrical inputs, as well as an electrical response to mechanical inputs, which makes them useful in sensors and actuators. Lead-based piezoelectrics demonstrate a large mechanical response, but they also pose a health risk. The ferroelectric BiFeO(3) is an attractive alternative because it is lead-free, and because strain can stabilize BiFeO(3) phases with a structure that resembles a morphotropic phase boundary. Here we report a reversible electric-field-induced strain of over 5% in BiFeO(3) films, together with a characterization of the origins of this effect. In situ transmission electron microscopy coupled with nanoscale electrical and mechanical probing shows that large strains result from moving the boundaries between tetragonal- and rhombohedral-like phases, which changes the phase stability of the mixture. These results demonstrate the potential of BiFeO(3) as a substitute for lead-based materials in future piezoelectric applications.
Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
J X
JX
Zhang
B
B
Xiang
Q
Q
He
J
J
Seidel
R J
RJ
Zeches
P
P
Yu
S Y
SY
Yang
C H
CH
Wang
Y-H
YH
Chu
L W
LW
Martin
A M
AM
Minor
R
R
Ramesh
D001729:Bismuth / Q000737:chemistry*; D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods; D004560:Electricity; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D007854:Lead / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D044367:Phase Transition; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014159:Transducers
D005290:Ferric Compounds; D007854:Lead; D001729:Bismuth
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