Ceramics International xxx (xxxx) xxx

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Ceramics International
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ceramint

Enhanced strain and reduced dielectric loss in a bismuth-based high-TC

ternary solid solution system of BiScO3-Pb(Sc1/2Nb1/2)O3-PbTiO3
Zenghui Liu a, *, Zhenjun Shao a, Zeng Luo b, Jun Xu a, Yunjian Cao a, Hao Li a, Hongyan Wan a, **,
Ruihua An a, Nan Zhang a, Yijun Zhang a, Gang Niu a, c, Wei Ren a, c
a
Electronic Materials Research Laboratory, Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education & International Center for Dielectric Research, School of Electronic Science and
Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049, China
b
Air and Missile Defense College, Air Force Engineering University, Xi’an, 710051, China
c
State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering & International Joint Laboratory for Micro/Nano Manufacturing and Measurement Technology, Xi’an
Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049, China

A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T

Handling Editor: Dr P. Vincenzini To design novel materials suitable for high-temperature electromechanical applications, a bismuth-based ternary
solid solution system, (1-x-y)BiScO3-yPb(Sc1/2Nb1/2)O3-xPbTiO3, with compositions situated around the mor­
Keywords: photropic phase boundary, were designed and synthesized in the form of ceramic. The crystal structure,
High Curie temperature microstructure, dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties, and the local polar domain structure of the
Strain
ceramics were investigated in detail. The examined ceramics exhibit large grain sizes ranging from 20 μm to 45
Dielectric loss
μm, along with noteworthy characteristics, including a relatively large strain of 0.21 %, a high large-signal
Piezo-/ferroelectric materials
BiScO3-PbTiO3 piezoelectric coefficient (d33* = 368 pm/V), a low dielectric loss (tanδ = 1.7 %), and a high Curie tempera­
Morphotropic phase boundary ture (TC ~ 423 ◦ C). These enhanced properties signify the suitability of the designed ternary ceramics for future
high-temperature electromechanical applications. This work demonstrates an effective approach for designing
ferro-/piezoelectric materials characterized by substantial strain and low dielectric loss.

1. Introduction response (d33 ≤ 40 pC/N) [9–11].

High-temperature piezoelectric materials are of paramount impor­
tance across various industries, including aerospace, energy generation,
and automotive engineering. These materials are central to the fabri­
cation of sensors and actuators capable of functioning under elevated
temperatures (>200 ◦ C), delivering precise measurements and control
in situations where conventional materials would prove inadequate
[1–5]. Traditional lead zirconate titanate (known as PZT)-based piezo­
electric ceramics with the compositions near the morphotropic phase
boundary (MPB) region exhibit competitive piezoelectric and electro­
mechanical properties. However, PZT-based ceramics are mainly used at
lower temperatures due to their Curie temperature (TC) falling below
350 ◦ C, which may result in depolarization at temperatures exceeding
200 ◦ C [6–8]. In contrast, bismuth layer-structured ceramics, such as
Bi4Ti3O12 (TC ~ 675 ◦ C) and CaBi2Nb2O9 (TC ~ 940 ◦ C), consistently
demonstrate substantially higher TC values. Nevertheless, their practical
applications are hindered by their relatively modest piezoelectric
Recently, special attention has been paid to bismuth-based ferro-/
piezoelectric perovskites primarily due to their remarkable combination
of high TC, substantial polarization, and exceptional piezoelectric
properties arising from their unique crystal chemistry feature [12,13].
Among this family of compounds, the BiScO3-PbTiO3 (BS-PT) system has
emerged as a key contender for potential applications at temperatures
exceeding 300 ◦ C. Notably, a high TC up to 450 ◦ C and a large piezo­
electric coefficient d33 of 450 pC/N have been reported for the
0.36BS-0.64PT ceramics, with an MPB composition bridging the rhom­
bohedral and tetragonal phases. The performance of BS-PT is superior to
that of the traditional PZT ceramics [14–17]. However, the BS-PT-based
ceramics suffer from a relatively high dielectric loss (tanδ >3 %), which
gives rise to serious heat generation, and energy dissipation more seri­
ously at high temperatures and under large electric fields. This con­
strains their suitability for high-temperature applications [17–19]. In
the efforts to mitigate the dielectric loss, strategies such as doping with
MnO2 and introduction of a third end member, such as Bi(Mn1/2Zr1/2)O3

* Corresponding author.
** Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses: liu.z.h@xjtu.edu.cn (Z. Liu), wanhongyan@stu.xjtu.edu.cn (H. Wan).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2024.02.008
Received 14 November 2023; Received in revised form 31 January 2024; Accepted 1 February 2024
Available online 2 February 2024
0272-8842/© 2024 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.

Please cite this article as: Zenghui Liu et al., Ceramics International, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2024.02.008
Z. Liu et al.
or Pb(Mn1/3Nb2/3)O3, into the BS-PT system to form ternary solid so­
lutions have been reported. Unfortunately, the dielectric loss in these
modified ceramics is still relatively high, rendering them unsuitable for
high-temperature electromechanical applications. Moreover, the
piezoelectric coefficient d33 and TC experience significant deterioration
in comparison to the unmodified BS-PT ceramics [20–24].
Pb(Sc1/2Nb1/2)O3 (PSN) is a complex perovskite material that ex­
hibits either ferroelectric or relaxor behavior, contingent upon the de­
gree of Sc and Nb ordering on the B-site of its structure [25,26]. PSN and
PbTiO3 (PT) are capable of forming a continuous solid solution, which
possesses an MPB at the composition near 0.57PSN-0.43PT. The PSN-PT
ceramics showcase outstanding electric properties, including a high d33
(>500 pC/N), a substantial strain level of up to 0.6 %, elevated elec­
tromechanical coupling factors (kp ~ 82 % and k33 ~ 57 %), a relatively
low dielectric loss (tanδ <2 %), and a moderate TC (~254 ◦ C) [27,28].
In this work, we present a novel approach, involving the incorpo­
ration of the PSN end member into the BS-PT system and the fabrication
of ceramics featuring large grain sizes ranging from 20 μm to 45 μm, to
address the above-mentioned issue. This strategy is employed to
significantly augment strain, reduce the dielectric loss, and simulta­
neously maintain a high TC. The effects of the PSN modification on the
crystal structure, microstructure, and dielectric, ferroelectric and
piezoelectric properties of BS-PT are investigated in detail. Ultimately,
we have successfully achieved a relatively high strain of 0.21 %, an
appealing large-signal piezoelectric coefficient (d33* = 368 pm/V), a
relatively low dielectric loss (tanδ = 1.7 %), and a high Curie temper­
ature (TC ~ 423 ◦ C).
2. Experimental procedure
2.1. MPB and composition design
It is crucial to determine the MPB compositions in a multicomponent
system to achieve high electromechanical properties. The ternary MPB
of the (1-x-y)BiScO3-yPb(Sc1/2Nb1/2)O3-xPbTiO3 solid solution system,
denoted as (1-x-y)BS-yPSN-xPT is projected based on the linear region
between the two binary solid solution systems of BS-PT and PSN-PT.
Within the ternary phase diagram, three distinct lines are selected, as
illustrated in Fig. 1, described as (1-x)BiScO3-xPbTiO3, (0.975-x)BiScO3-
0.025 Pb(Sc1/2Nb1/2)O3-xPbTiO3, and (0.95-x)BiScO3-0.05 Pb(Sc1/
2Nb1/2)O3-xPbTiO3, respectively.
2.2. Samples preparation
The synthesis of (1-x-y)BS-yPSN-xPT ceramics with various
Fig. 1. The designed MPB in the ternary phase diagram of (1-x-y)BS-yPSN-xPT
and the compositions studied in this work.
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compositions (y = 0, x = 0.61–0.66; y = 0.025, x = 0.59–0.64; y = 0.05,
x = 0.58–0.63) was carried out using highly pure (>99.9 %) PbO, Bi2O3,
Sc2O3, TiO2, and Nb2O5 powders as reagents. Before weighing, all these
powders were preheated in an oven at 80 ◦ C for 12 h to remove the
moisture and other adsorbed gases such as CO2, and to ensure the
stoichiometry of the designed compositions. A wolframite precursor
method was employed to prevent the formation of the undesired pyro­
chlore phase [29]. Initially, the ScNbO4 (SN) precursor was synthesized
by calcining the mixed Sc2O3 and Nb2O5 powders at 1150 ◦ C for 2 h.
Subsequently, SN was combined with the other oxides in stoichiometric
proportions. To compensate for the volatilization of Bi2O3 and PbO at
high temperatures, an excess of 2 mol% was added. The mixed powders
were ball-milled in the presence of ethanol for 8 h using zirconia balls in
sealed jars. The resultant mixture was dried and further ground for 0.5 h
using an agate mortar and pestle. Following this, the powders were
pressed and calcined in a sealed alumina crucible at 850 ◦ C for 4 h to
form the perovskite phase. After calcination, the powders underwent
another round of ball milling and drying for granulation, and 10 wt%
polyvinyl acetate (PVA) was added as a binder. The granulated powder
was then uniaxially pressed into 13 mm diameter discs with a pressure of
300 MPa for sintering. A sacrificial powder with the same composition
was used during the sintering process. To entirely remove the PVA
abinder, the pellets were heated to 650 ◦ C and held at this temperature
for 1 h. Subsequently, the pellets were sintered at temperatures ranging
from 1000 ◦ C to 1200 ◦ C for 2 h to produce dense ceramics.
2.3. Characterization
X-ray diffraction (XRD) was performed on crushed ceramic powder
by utilizing a PANalytical X’Pert Pro MPD diffractometer with Cu Kα1
radiation to determine the crystal structure. The relative density of the
as-sintered ceramics was measured by the Archimedes’ method, and
their microstructure was imaged using field emission scanning electron
microscopy (SEM). The average grain size and the distributions were
estimated from the SEM images using the linear interception method via
the Nano Measure software. Raman spectroscopy measurements were
performed at room temperature using a 532 nm excitation laser source
(RTS2-501-SMSXS, Zolix, China).
The samples were coated with silver paste on both circular surfaces
as electrodes and then fired at 500 ◦ C for 10 min to achieve a good ohmic
contact before subsequent electrical measurements. The dielectric
properties were characterized using a broadband dielectric impedance
spectrometer (E4981A Precision LCR, Agilent, Hewlett-Packard, USA)
equipped with a laboratory-made high-temperature furnace using a
EUROTHERM 3204 PID temperature controller. The polarization-
electric field (P-E) hysteresis loops and the strain of the samples were
displayed at room temperature using a ferroelectric testing system (TF
Analyzer 2000 Systems, Aix ACCT, Germany) combined with a laser
interferometric vibrometer (SPeS 120, SIOS Messtechnik GmbH, Ger­
many) under ±45 kV/cm and 10 Hz. For piezoresponse force micro­
scopy (PFM) studies, the samples underwent mirror polishing and were
subsequently annealed at 600 ◦ C for 0.5 h to remove any residual stress.
The domain structure and its dynamics were examined using PFM,
conducted with a modified commercially atomic force microscopy sys­
tem operating in piezoresponse mode (AFM, Dimension ICON, Nano­
Scope V, Bruker, Germany).
3. Results and discussion
3.1. Crystal structure
Fig. 2 illustrates the XRD patterns of the (1-x-y)BS-yPSN-xPT ce­
ramics at room temperature. All the XRD patterns manifest a pure
perovskite structure without any trace of pyrochlore phase, under­
scoring the formation of a stable ternary solid solution. Furthermore, no
superlattice corresponding to cations ordering or oxygen octahedral tilt
Z. Liu et al.
Fig. 2. X-ray diffraction patterns of the (1-x-y)BS-yPSN-xPT ceramics (sintered at 1150 ◦ C): (a) y = 0, (b) y = 0.025, and (c) y = 0.05. Rietveld refinements of the (d)
y = 0.025, x = 0.64 and (e) y = 0.025, x = 0.62 ceramics.
was observed in these compositions.
The phase symmetry gradually evolves with the PT content, as
prominently evidenced by the (111)C and (200)C peaks (with the
subscript ‘‘C’’ denoting a cubic crystal lattice setting). In the case of y =
0, when x ≥ 0.65, a single and symmetrical (111)C peak is observed
alongside a doublet (200)C peak, signifying a typical tetragonal struc­
ture. The (200)C peak becomes asymmetrical at x = 0.64 and transforms
into a triple feature at x = 0.63. In addition, a shoulder emerges at a
lower angle in the (111)C peak. As the PT content diminishes, the (111)C
and (200)C peaks continue to exhibit splitting. This phenomenon is
characteristic of an MPB feature, consistent with previous studies [17,
30]. For the y = 0.025 and 0.05 series, a similar sequence of phase
evolution is observed.
Compared with BS-PT, the MPB region progressively shifts toward
lower PT content in the PSN-modified systems. Within the MPB region,
the coexistence of a monoclinic MA phase (Cm space group) and a
tetragonal phase (P4mm space group) were reported in the BS-PT system
[30,31], which is believed to facilitate the polarization rotation and
enhance the piezoelectric and dielectric properties. Therefore, it is
reasonable to anticipate the presence of analogous phase components in
the ternary ceramic systems currently under investigation.
Rietveld refinement was performed on two selected compositions, y
= 0.025, x = 0.64 and y = 0.025, x = 0.62, to investigate the crystal
structure of the (1-x-y)BS-yPSN-xPT ternary ceramics by using the
TOPAS Academic software. As illustrated in Fig. 2(d) and (e), a tetrag­
onal structure with P4mm space group was found to a good fit for the
diffraction pattern of the y = 0.025, x = 0.64 ceramic. In contrast, a
single-phase model of P4mm could not well fit the y = 0.025, x = 0.62
diffraction pattern. Therefore, structural models consisting of a mixture
of P4mm and Cm phases were employed for data fitting, yielding satis­
factory refinement results with Rwp = 8.8 %, Rexp = 3.5 %, Rp = 6.6 %,
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and a goodness of fit (gof) = 2.52. The proportions of the two phases
were determined as 75.2 % for P4mm and 24.8 % for Cm, respectively.
These fitting results indicate a gradual transition from the mixed phases
of P4mm and Cm in the MPB region to the PT-rich P4mm phase. Neutron
and synchrotron diffraction experiments are in progress to provide
further confirmation of the crystal structure within this system.
Raman spectra of the (1-x-y)BS-yPSN-xPT ceramics at room tem­
perature are shown in Fig. 3. For y = 0, the intensity of the Raman peak
at approximately 610 cm-1 gradually increases, while the peak at 547
cm-1 decreases with an augmentation in PT content. These peaks
correspond to the vibration of the BO6 octahedra. Meanwhile, the peak
at around 282 cm-1, indicative of B-O bending and/or stretching mode,
shifts to a lower frequency region, suggesting a softening of the lattice
vibration [32–34]. Additionally, at x = 0.64, the Raman spectra reveal
the disappearance of the peak at around 251 cm-1, replaced by new
peaks at approximately 126 cm-1 and 335 cm-1. The sudden change in
Raman spectra aligns with the composition-induced phase transition
from MPB to tetragonal, as indicated by XRD results. The y = 0.025 and
0.05 series exhibit similar variations in Raman spectra (Fig. 3(b) and
(c)), providing further confirmation of the structural analysis.
3.2. Microstructure
The surface topography of the (1-x-y)BS-yPSN-xPT ceramic samples
sintered at 1150 ◦ C is presented in Fig. 4. All of the samples exhibit a
fairly dense and homogeneous microstructure without any observable
pores. The high quality of the samples is further evidenced by the
achievement of a high relative density exceeding 96 %. The presence of a
dense and uniform morphology underscores the favorable mechanical
properties of the as-prepared (1-x-y)BS-yPSN-xPT ceramics, a critical
aspect for applications in high-temperature devices.
Z. Liu et al. Ceramics International xxx (xxxx) xxx

Fig. 3. Raman spectra of the (1-x-y)BS-yPSN-xPT ceramics (sintered at 1150 ◦ C): (a) y = 0, (b) y = 0.025, and (c) y = 0.05.

Fig. 4. SEM micrographs of the (1-x-y)BS-yPSN-xPT ceramics sintered at 1150 ◦ C: (a) y = 0, (b) y = 0.025, and (c) y = 0.05.

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Z. Liu et al.
It is notable that the grain size in the obtained samples is relatively
large, averaging about 20 μm to 45 μm. The presence of these large
grains effectively eliminates porosity and promotes densification,
which, in turn, aids in reducing dielectric loss and enhancing piezo­
electric properties. The large grain size may be attributed to the inclu­
sion of additional 2 % Bi2O3 and PbO in the initial materials, resulting in
the formation of a transient liquid phase that facilitates grain growth
[35,36]. Moreover, the grain size demonstrates a gradual increase with
increasing PT content at a given PSN content. Conversely, the increase in
PSN content exerts a suppressing effect on grain growth.
3.3. Dielectric properties and phase transition
In order to evaluate the dielectric property and investigate the phase
transition behavior, the dielectric permittivity and loss were measured
as the temperature increased from room temperature to 500 ◦ C, fol­
lowed by subsequent cooling. Fig. 5 depicts the temperature dependence
of the dielectric properties of the selected (1-x-y)BS-yPSN-xPT ceramics
at various frequencies.
In the case of y = 0, the dielectric curve exhibits a relatively sharp
peak in permittivity, with the dielectric maximum temperature (Tm)
displaying a weak (or negligible) frequency dependence. This behavior
signifies the phase transition from the ferroelectric to paraelectric pha­
ses at the Curie temperature TC (or Tm). The TC gradually increases from
422 ◦ C for x = 0.61 to 457 ◦ C for x = 0.66, thus confirming a notably
high TC feature in the vicinity of the MPB. Concurrently, the dielectric
permittivity initially increases, reaches its peak at x = 0.64, and sub­
sequently decreases across the MPB region, as detailed in Table 1.
The incorporation of PSN into BS-PT results in the broadening and
suppression of the dielectric peak, whereas the TC (or Tm) remains
almost unchanged with frequency, indicating a typical diffuse phase
transformation characteristic [37,38]. This phenomenon is particularly
pronounced in the compositions with lower PT contents. In the y =
0.025 and 0.05 series, the permittivity and TC show a similar variation
trend with x, while the peak position shifts gradually to the lower PT
side compared with the y = 0 series. Additionally, the permittivity in­
creases while TC slightly decreases with the same PT content. None­
theless, the (1-x-y)BS-yPSN-xPT ceramics consistently maintain a
relatively high TC above 386 ◦ C, rendering them promising candidates
for high-temperature electromechanical applications.
Fig. 5. Temperature dependences of the dielectric permittivity and loss of the representative (1-x-y)BS-yPSN-xPT ceramics (sintered at 1150 ◦ C) measured at various
frequencies upon cooling.
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The modified Curie-Weiss law is often employed to describe the
dielectric property of a ferroelectric with diffuse phase transformation:
1 1 (T − Tm )γ
− = ,
ε εm C
where C, γ, and εm are the Curie constant, diffusion coefficient, and
maximum dielectric permittivity, respectively. In general, the γ falls
between 1 and 2, where γ = 1 signifies a typical ferroelectric behavior, γ
= 2 indicates an ideal relaxor behavior, and 1 < γ < 2 corresponds to a
diffuse phase transformation. The calculated diffusion coefficients range
from 1.56 to 1.66, 1.61 to 1.69, and 1.61 to 1.78 for the y = 0, 0.025, and
0.05 series at the MPB, respectively, supporting the notion of a diffuse
phase transformation. The increased diffuseness can be attributed to the
introduction of PSN, which augments chemical heterogeneities and
associated disorder effects [37–39].
It is worth noting that the dielectric loss observed in the BS-PT ce­
ramics prepared in this study is rather small, ranging from 0.4 % to 2.1 %
at room temperature, when measured under 10 kHz. This represents an
improvement compared to previous reports where losses of approxi­
mately 3 % were observed [17–19]. The low dielectric loss at room
temperature is consistently observed in the (1-x-y)BS-yPSN-xPT ce­
ramics, and it further decreases at elevated temperatures by introducing
PSN, as indicated in Table 1. This reduced loss can be attributed to the
notably large grain sizes, which restrict space charge migration (inter­
facial polarization contribution) within the ceramics, in addition to the
beneficial effects of PSN substitution [40–42]. At high temperatures
(>300 ◦ C), the dielectric loss increases significantly, especially
measured under lower frequencies, which could be due to the increased
leakage/conductivity related to the thermally activated defects [23].
3.4. Ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties
Fig. 6 illustrates the polarization-electric field (P-E) loops of the (1-x-
y)BS-yPSN-xPT ceramics measured at room temperature under 10 Hz. In
the BS-PT ceramics, full saturation cannot be achieved under ±40 kV/
cm, beyond which the samples are prone to breakdown. However, the
PSN-modified BS-PT ceramics exhibit saturated P-E hysteresis loops at
±50 kV/cm, demonstrating a significantly enhanced polarization, as
depicted in Fig. 6.
A noticeable trend in the (1-x-y)BS-yPSN-xPT ceramics is that the
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Table 1
Structure and properties of the (1-x-y)BS-yPSN-xPT ceramics.
Material Structure TC (◦ C) εr @10 kHz tanδ @10 kHz (%) Strain (%) d33* (pm/V) EC (kV/cm) Pr (μC/cm2)

30 C
◦
300 C
◦
30 C ◦
300 C ◦

0.39BS-0.61PT MPB 422 674 1986 2.1 19.0 0.09 180 19 10

0.38BS-0.62PT MPB 428 688 2134 1.7 18.7 0.09 200 22 15
0.37BS-0.63PT MPB 438 777 2381 0.9 31.1 0.10 226 19 10
0.36BS-0.64PT MPB 444 954 3136 1.6 21.6 0.12 238 24 16
0.35BS-0.65PT Tetragonal 452 740 2288 0.8 29.1 0.04 120 16 4
0.34BS-0.66PT Tetragonal 457 654 1975 0.4 36.1 0.03 74 23 6
0.385BS-0.025PSN-0.59PT MPB 401 761 3022 1.5 9.5 0.12 235 23 21
0.375BS-0.025PSN-0.60PT MPB 404 758 2768 1.4 10.4 0.16 293 23 20
0.365BS-0.025PSN-0.61PT MPB 414 700 2818 1.5 13.0 0.18 326 24 23
0.355BS-0.025PSN-0.62PT MPB 418 825 3358 1.5 10.1 0.18 323 24 24
0.345BS-0.025PSN-0.63PT Tetragonal 423 1124 4151 0.9 16.2 0.21 368 28 25
0.335BS-0.025PSN-0.64PT Tetragonal 428 1060 3362 1.8 15.2 0.19 325 31 21
0.37BS-0.05PSN-0.58PT MPB 386 751 3684 1.7 4.6 0.13 244 22 29
0.36BS-0.05PSN-0.59PT MPB 388 747 3769 2.1 4.8 0.15 276 22 30
0.35BS-0.05PSN-0.60PT MPB 395 850 3824 1.8 9.0 0.16 299 23 31
0.34BS-0.05PSN-0.61PT MPB 401 1207 5372 2.2 9.0 0.17 303 24 28
0.33BS-0.05PSN-0.62PT Tetragonal 415 957 3519 1.8 7.2 0.17 303 26 19
0.32BS-0.05PSN-0.63PT Tetragonal 419 926 2910 0.6 10.6 0.19 344 30 29

Fig. 6. Polarization-electric field hysteresis loops of the representative (1-x-y)
BS-yPSN-xPT ceramics (sintered at 1150 ◦ C) measured at 10 Hz at room
temperature.
remnant polarization Pr reaches its maximum in the MPB region, while
the coercive field EC gradually increases with higher PT contents. The
unipolar strain and the large-signal piezoelectric coefficient d33* display
a similar compositional dependence, as detailed in Fig. 7 and Table 1. In
the composition of y = 0.025 and x = 0.63, an enhanced strain of 0.21 %
and a d33* of 368 pm/V are attained, nearly twice as large as those
observed in BS-PT within the MPB region. Consequently, the introduc­
tion of PSN effectively enhances the ferroelectric and piezoelectric
properties of BS-PT.
The large Pr, enhanced strain and high piezoelectric coefficient
observed in the samples with MPB compositions are attributed to the
coexistence of tetragonal and monoclinic phases. This coexistence re­
sults in a synergistic effect of equivalent, multiple polarization states (6
equivalent states for tetragonal symmetry and 24 equivalent states for
monoclinic symmetry), facilitating polarization rotation [43–47].
3.5. Local polar domain structure
Piezoresponse force microscopy offers valuable micro-to nanoscale
Fig. 7. Unipolar strain of the representative (1-x-y)BS-yPSN-xPT ceramics
(sintered at 1150 ◦ C) measured at 10 Hz at room temperature.
insights into the polar domain and polarization switching, which
contribute to a profound understanding of the electromechanical
behaviour in ferroelectric materials [48–50]. In Fig. 8, the topography,
and the out-of-plane PFM amplitude and phase images of the repre­
sentative (0.975-x)BS-0.025PSN-xPT ceramics in an area of 15✕15 μm2
are illustrated.
The examined samples exhibit intricate domain configurations, with
domain sizes ranging from ~50 nm to ~5 μm. A noticeable feature is the
comparatively diminutive size of polar domains, a tendency that di­
minishes with the escalation of PT content within the MPB region and
subsequently intensifies in the tetragonal region. The composition of x
= 0.63, which displays the highest strain and piezoelectric coefficient,
exhibits the smallest domain and a high density of domain wall. The
small domains display greater flexibility in response to the applied
electric field due to their small domain wall energy [51–55].
Under the application of electric fields, nano-to micrometers-sized
domains began to coalesce, forming larger domains that eventually
switched to the “down” polarization state when subjected to 40 V, as
illustrated in the central 5✕15 μm2 area in the PFM phase images.
Reorientation of these domains to the “up” polarization state was

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Z. Liu et al.
Fig. 8. Topography, polar domain structure and its evolution under the electric fields determined by piezoresponse force microscopy in the (0.975-x)BS-0.025PSN-
xPT ceramics (sintered at 1150 ◦ C): (a) x = 0.61, (b) x = 0.62, (c) x = 0.63, and (d) x = 0.64. The red boxes in the phase images were poled under a voltage sequence
of 20 V, 40 V, -20 V, and -40 V, respectively, for each composition. (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the
Web version of this article.)
observed upon application of a negative voltage, further confirming the
ferroelectric nature of the ceramics. Therefore, the small domain sizes
and their active response contribute significantly to the notable piezo­
electric properties observed in x = 0.63.
It was observed that the downward switching of the domains cannot
be complete under -40 V for x = 0.62. This behaviour indicates the ex­
istence of an internal bias field that appears to align in an upward di­
rection within the sample. The electric field favors the complete
switching of the ‘‘up” domains, but prevents the completion of the
reverse process [56]. The domains switching would likely be complete if
poled at a higher voltage for a longer time.
4. Conclusions
A strategy is proposed that involves the introduction of the Pb(Sc1/
2Nb1/2)O3 end member into the bismuth-based perovskite solid solution
of BiScO3-PbTiO3 and the preparation of ceramics with large grain size
(ranging 20 μm ~ 45 μm). This strategy aims to significantly enhance
the strain level, to reduce the dielectric loss, and to simultaneously
maintain a high Curie temperature of BS-PT. A ternary solid solution
system of (1-x-y)BiScO3-yPb(Sc1/2Nb1/2)O3-xPbTiO3 with the composi­
tions around the morphotropic phase boundary, was designed and pre­
pared in the form of ceramics using the solid-state reaction method and
sintering process. The impact of PSN modification on the crystal struc­
ture, microstructure, dielectric, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric proper­
ties of BS-PT was systematically investigated. The introduction of PSN
was found to greatly enhance the strain level and piezoelectric proper­
ties and to slightly reduce the Curie temperature. In the composition
0.32BS-0.05PSN-0.63PT, a relatively large strain of 0.21 %, a high large-
signal piezoelectric coefficient (d33* = 368 pm/V), a low dielectric loss
(tanδ = 1.7 % at room temperature, measured at 10 kHz), and a high
Curie temperature (TC ~ 423 ◦ C) were achieved, confirming the effec­
tiveness of the proposed strategy. These enhanced properties are
7
Ceramics International xxx (xxxx) xxx
associated with the MPB feature, which accommodates the coexisting
phases and multiple domain states that facilitate polarization rotations
and the presence of nano-to micrometer-sized domains with high flexi­
bility. These improved properties suggest that the BS-PSN-PT ceramics
hold a promising potential for applications in high-temperature elec­
tromechanical devices.
Declaration of competing interest
We declare that we have no competing financial interests or personal
relationships with other people or organizations that can influence our
work in this article.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Dr. Zuo-Guang Ye from Simon Fraser
University for helpful discussion. This work was supported by the Na­
tional Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 52372124) and
the Shaanxi Province Postdoctoral Science Foundation. We acknowl­
edge the Instrument Analysis Center of Xi’an Jiaotong University for
assistance with SEM work.
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