Insights into deformation and fracture mechanisms of CaBi4Ti4O15 piezoceramics via doping and poling engineering

Xu J, Wang Q, Zhu J, Xu Q, Chen Y, Xie S (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Journal of the American Ceramic Society Wiley-Blackwell

DOI: 10.1111/jace.70264

Abstract

Mechanical behaviors are specifically important considerations for piezoelectric materials in practical applications. As promising high-temperature piezoelectric materials, CaBi4Ti4O15 (CBT) ceramics have been studied for many years, and significant progress has been made in enhancing their electrical performance. However, the mechanical properties of CBT ceramics have received scant attention from researchers to date. In this study, the hardness and fracture toughness of Nb/Mn co-doped CBT ceramics were systematically examined. The effects of ion doping and electric poling on plastic deformation and crack propagation, as well as fracture behaviors, were revealed in detail. The results demonstrate that numerous layered ferroelectric domains with nanoscale dimensions are observed on the surface of plate-like grains, and the corresponding domain boundaries are further confirmed as 180°-like domain walls by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Nanoindentation and Vickers indentation tests reveal that the Nb/Mn co-doped CBT ceramics with smaller grain size and higher density possess greater hardness and higher resistance to deformation. The poling process tends to decrease hardness due to the presence of micro-defects and stress concentration after domain rearrangement under applied electric field. Yet, the crack propagation along the poling direction is retarded by ferroelastic deformation around the crack tip, exhibiting significant fracture toughening. R-curve analysis further elaborates on intrinsic and extrinsic toughening behaviors and indicate that ceramics with higher doping levels possess enhanced toughening behaviors and improved fracture resistance. This work not only deepens our understanding of the mechanical behaviors of CBT piezoelectric ceramics, but also offers valuable guidance for the design and development of high-performance piezoelectric materials for practical applications.

Involved external institutions

Chengdu University CN China (CN) Sichuan University (SCU) / 四川大学 CN China (CN) Xihua University CN China (CN)

How to cite

APA:

Xu, J., Wang, Q., Zhu, J., Xu, Q., Chen, Y., & Xie, S. (2025). Insights into deformation and fracture mechanisms of CaBi4Ti4O15 piezoceramics via doping and poling engineering. Journal of the American Ceramic Society. https://doi.org/10.1111/jace.70264

MLA:

Xu, Jiageng, et al. "Insights into deformation and fracture mechanisms of CaBi4Ti4O15 piezoceramics via doping and poling engineering." Journal of the American Ceramic Society (2025).

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