This work first reports the finding of a re-entrant relaxor–ferroelectric composite (RRFC) which solves a long-standing challenge: a combination of low hysteresis and large electrostrain over a broad temperature range (i.e., 168 K temperature window for hysteresis <20% and strain >0.1%) in sufficiently disordered (Ba0.925Bi0.05)(Ti1−x/100Snx/100)O3 ceramics. This exceptional combination is achieved by the RRFC designing strategy; i.e., introducing sufficient disorder to enable a re-entrant transition and thereby creating a relaxor–ferroelectric coexisting microstructure over a broad temperature range. Our finding does not only solve the incompatibility of electromechanical properties but also may open a way to develop thermally stable high-performance materials.
- Minxia Fang
- Yuanchao Ji
- Xiaobing Ren