Enhancing the performance of PNN-PHT perovskite ferroelectric via configurational entropy strategy: Component design, electric properties, and mechanism analysis

The traditional approach to designing ferroelectrics through phase boundaries has limitations in regulating polarization configuration and achieving significant performance enhancements. In contrast, the concept of high-entropy materials has emerged as a promising strategy for designing new materials with enhanced properties. Herein, by incorporating the high configurational entropy ( S config ) strategy, the investigation explored the influence of S config on the electrical properties of PNN-PHT piezoceramics. The results demonstrated that high S config values were highly beneficial in improving the piezoelectric properties and significantly influenced the microstructure and grain size. The increase in S config value was found to be positively correlated with the Rayleigh coefficient ( α ), dielectric loss (tan δ ), and frequency dispersion ( γ ), while inversely correlated with the coercive electric field ( E c ). By exploring the mechanism via Raman and simulation analyses, it was discovered that high S config induces enhanced disorder, increased lattice distortion, and sharp volume changes. This ultimately resulted in a richer phase structure, reducing the potential energy barriers and leading to a lower activation energy ( E a ) required for polarization switching. This finding provides novel strategies and directions for the development of high-voltage and high-coercive-field materials, holding promise for designing piezoelectric devices with enhanced power density and precision.