Role of Bi2O3 and PbO excess on the Di-/ferro-/piezoelectric and bi-polar strain properties in 0.39Bi(Ni0.5Ti0.5)O3–0.20PbZrO3–0.41PbTiO3 ternary ceramics near MPB.

0.39Bi(Ni0.5Ti0.5)O3–0.20PbZrO3–0.41PbTiO3:x(Bi2O3 + PbO) (BNPZT:xBiPb, x = 0, 1, and 2) piezoceramics were prepared via conventional solid-state route. The impact of excess Bi2O3 and PbO on the structural, dielectric, ferroelectric, bipolar strain, and piezoelectric properties of BNPZT ceramics was investigated. The Rietveld refinement results indicated that all sintered ceramics were well crystallized into a pure perovskite structure with major rhombohedral and minor tetragonal phases. The temperature and frequency dependence of dielectric measurements revealed relaxor behavior and a high Curie temperature (Tc ~ 290 °C) for BNPZT:1BiPb ceramics. High remnant polarization (Pr ~ 25.43 μC/cm2), low coercive field (Ec ~ 16.73 kV/cm), and bipolar strain (0.12%) were achieved in BNPZT:1BiPb ceramics. This study outlines a route for exploring new piezoelectric materials with enhanced electrical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]