Thermally-stable large strain in Bi(Mn0.5Ti0.5)O3 modified 0.8Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-0.2Bi0.5K0.5TiO3 ceramics

(1-x)[0.8Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-0.2Bi0.5K0.5TiO3]-xBi(Mn0.5Ti0.5)O3 (x = 0–0.06, BNKMT100x) lead-free ferroelectric ceramics were prepared via solid state reaction method. Bi(Mn0.5Ti0.5)O3 induces a structure transition from rhombohedral-tetragonal morphotropic phases to pseudo-cubic phase. Moreover, the wide range of compositions within x = 0.03–0.055 exhibit large strain of 0.31%–0.41% and electrostrictive coefficient of 0.027–0.041 m4/C2. Especially, at x = 0.04, the large strain and electrostrictive coefficient are nearly temperature-independent in the range of 25–100 °C. The impedance analysis shows the large strain and electrostrictive coefficient originate from polar nanoregions response due to the addition of Bi(Mn0.5Ti0.5)O3.