Synergetic Contributions in Phase Boundary Engineering to the Piezoelectricity of Potassium Sodium Niobate Lead-Free Piezoceramics

Although the pronounced piezoelectricity was obtained in (K, Na)NbO3 piezoceramics with the phase boundary engineering (PBE), the physical mechanisms remain pending. Here, we revealed for the first time how PBE influences the piezoelectric properties through synergetic contributions. Cryogenic experiments confirm that PBE constructs a phase coexistence, consisting of rhombohedral (R), orthorhombic (O), and tetragonal (T) phases, with a structural softening, by which a high piezoelectric coefficient d33 of 555 pC/N and the enhanced temperature stability of strain are achieved. The phenomenological theory and transmission electron microscopy demonstrate that the superior d33 hinges on the flattened Gibbs free energy and the abundant nanodomains (10–80 nm), which induce the enhanced permittivity and the coexisting single domain and multidomain zones, respectively. In particular, we disclosed a trade-off relationship between ferroelectric domains and polar nanoregions (PNRs) and found the “double-edged sword” role of PNRs in the piezoelectricity enhancement. Therefore, this work helps understand the physical mechanisms of the piezoelectricity enhancement, benefiting the future research of lead-free piezoceramics.