Role of polarization switching and domain patterns in the enhanced piezoelectric characteristics of a Pb-free ferroelectric system

Abstract

Pb-free piezoelectric BaTi1–xSnxO3 system is one of the promising environment friendly ceramics due to its superior piezoresponse properties. The enhanced piezoresponse on this system has a strong correlation to their microscopic and macroscopic characteristics. In this work, the effects of structural and microstructural evolution on the piezoelectric properties of BaTi0.97Sn0.03O3 compound are explored. The structural and piezoelectric analysis elucidates that the samples experiencing the field induced tetragonal to orthorhombic phase transformation exhibits better piezoresponse. In addition, the domain configurations have a strong correlation with the synthesis conditions where the distribution of lamellar and/or stripe types of domain patterns show enhancement in comparison to Labyrinth type with increase in sintering temperature. The Rayleigh analysis confirms that the increase in irreversible nature of non-180° domain walls can improve the d 33 of the BaTi0.97Sn0.03O3 samples. Overall, the results illustrate that the stripe domain configurations and field induced polarization switching from tetragonal to orthorhombic phase favour superior piezoresponse in the sample.