High Piezoelectric Performance in Pb(Ni1/3Nb2/3)O3–Pb(Sc1/2Nb1/2)O3–PbTiO3 Ternary System Featuring Small Structural Distortion and Heterogeneous Domain Configuration

Ternary/polynary perovskite solid solutions based on binary systems are well-known for their high piezoelectric performance. In this work, a series of Pb(Ni_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-Pb(Sc_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃-PbTiO₃ compositions with the particularly high piezoelectric coefficient of d₃₃* > 1000 pm/V and d₃₃ > 700 pC/N have been developed. The optimal performance was achieved in the 0.52PNN-0.14PSN-0.34PT composition (d₃₃* = 1120 pm/V, d₃₃ = 804 pC/N, and T_m = 109 °C). The high piezoelectric performance of this system is reported and is superior to those of most lead-based ternary/polynary ceramics. By a combination of in situ high-energy synchrotron diffraction with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the origin of the high piezoelectric response has been unambiguously revealed. Upon application of an external electric field, synchrotron diffraction profiles show no splitting but prominent shifting, indicating that the large intrinsic lattice strain arising from the reduced crystal anisotropy and facilitated polarization variation is associated with the high piezoelectric response. Furthermore, microscopic studies by TEM highlight a heterogeneous ferroelectric domain configuration generated by a small local structural distortion, which is also beneficial for the high piezoelectric performance in the proposed ternary piezoelectric systems. The design process of ternary perovskite solid solutions with a wide morphotropic phase boundary region and small structural distortion may be enlightening for the exploration of other high-performance polynary piezoelectrics.