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Cobalt-doped (1−x)BiScO3-xPbTiO3 piezoelectric ceramics were fabricated by conventional solid state synthesis, in which a morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) region was observed in the compositional range of 0.48⩽x⩽0.53 from the phase structure measurement. Co doping in the 0.50BiScO3–0.50PbTiO3 ceramics resulted in a relaxor ferroelectric behavior due to cation disorder. The ferroelectric phase transition of the composition x=0.50 near the MPB was found to be a displacive and first-order transition with excellent piezoelectric properties, Tm=470°C, d33=282pC∕N, Kp=0.49, indicating a future high-temperature piezoelectric application.

The dielectric properties show a typical ferroelectric relaxor behavior in CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics with different grain sizes in the temperature range of 400–600K. The relaxation strength and the frequency dispersion increase with grain size decreasing, which can be due to the different stresses in grains with different sizes. These variations have been confirmed by the modified Curie-Weiss law. The results fitted well by the Volgel-Fulcher relationship and the variations in the slim current-voltage loops are correlated with the microstructures closely. It can be proposed that the grain size is one of the main factors of affecting the relaxor behavior.

We report the discovery of a new class of nanowires with a star-shaped cross section. Unlike most nanowires, it shows a prominent regular reentrant surface profile. The electron diffraction and electron energy loss spectroscopy analyses indicate that the nanowire is composed of superhard boron suboxide (B6O). The fivefold symmetry of the star-shaped nanowire could be understood as a cyclic twinning structure. The crystallographic analysis further suggested that it could be a common occurrence in boron-rich compounds. Star-shaped nanowires with regular reentrant surfaces are attractive for applications in nanotechnology.