Boosting the High Performance of BiFeO3-BaTiO3 Lead-Free Piezoelectric Ceramics: One-Step Preparation and Reaction Mechanisms

High Temperature-Insensitive Electrostrain Obtained in (K, Na)NbO3-Based Lead-Free Piezoceramics

Over the last decades, notable progress is achieved in (K, Na)NbO3 (KNN)-based lead-free piezoceramics. However, more studies are conducted to increase its piezoelectric charge coefficient (d33). For actuator applications, piezoceramics need high electric-field induced strain under low electric fields while maintaining exceptional temperature stability across a wide temperature range. In this study, this work developes Li/Sb-codoped KNN (LKNNS) ceramics with high electrostrain by defect engineering and domain engineering. A remarkable strain of 0.43%, along with a giant d33* value of 2177 pm V-1, is attained in the LKNNS ceramic at 20 kV cm-1. The ceramic exhibits a minimal performance decrease of less than 15% over a temperature range from room temperature to 150 °C. The exceptional strain is attributed to the presence of A-site vacancy-oxygen vacancy (V A ' - V O • • ${\mathrm{V}}_{\mathrm{A}}^{{\prime}}{\mathrm{ - V}}_{\mathrm{O}}^{{\mathrm{ \bullet \bullet }}}$ ) defect dipoles and the increase in nano-domains. The hierarchical domain configuration andV A ' - V O • • ${\mathrm{V}}_{\mathrm{A}}^{{\prime}}{\mathrm{ - V}}_{\mathrm{O}}^{{\mathrm{ \bullet \bullet }}}$ defect dipoles impede the switched domains from reverting to their original state as temperature increases, furthermore, the elongated dipole moments ofV A ' - V O • • ${\mathrm{V}}_{\mathrm{A}}^{{\prime}}{\mathrm{ - V}}_{\mathrm{O}}^{{\mathrm{ \bullet \bullet }}}$ caused by rising temperatures compensate for strain reduction results in exceptional temperature stability. This study provides a model for designing piezoelectric materials with exceptional overall performance under low electric fields and across a wide temperature range.

Enhanced Piezoelectricity and Thermal Stability of Electrostrain Performance in BiFeO3-Based Lead-Free Ceramics

BiFeO₃-based ceramics possess an advantage over large spontaneous polarization and high Curie temperature, and are thus widely explored in the field of high-temperature lead-free piezoelectrics and actuators. However, poor piezoelectricity/resistivity and thermal stability of electrostrain make them less competitive. To address this problem, (1 - x) (0.65BiFeO₃-0.35BaTiO₃)-xLa_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃ (BF-BT-xLNT) systems are designed in this work. It is found that piezoelectricity is significantly improved with LNT addition, which is contributed by the phase boundary effect of rhombohedral and pseudocubic phase coexistence. The small-signal and large-signal piezoelectric coefficient (d₃₃ and d33*) peaks at x = 0.02 with 97 pC/N and 303 pm/V, respectively. The relaxor property and resistivity are enhanced as well. This is verified by Rietveld refinement, dielectric/impedance spectroscopy and piezoelectric force microscopy (PFM) technique. Interestingly, a good thermal stability of electrostrain is obtained at x = 0.04 composition with fluctuation η = 31% (Smax'-SRTSRT×100%), in a wide temperature range of 25-180 °C, which is considered as a compromise of negative temperature dependent electrostrain for relaxors and the positive one for ferroelectric matrix. This work provides an implication for designing high-temperature piezoelectrics and stable electrostrain materials.

Electrical stimulation of piezoelectric BaTiO3 coated Ti6Al4V scaffolds promotes anti-inflammatory polarization of macrophages and bone repair via MAPK/JNK inhibition and OXPHOS activation

Bone regeneration is a highly synchronized process that requires multiple biochemical, bioelectrical, mechanical, and other physiological cues. The restoration and delivery of electrical cues locally through piezoelectric materials have been demonstrated to facilitate osteogenesis in vitro and bone repair in vivo. However, the underlying mechanism by which piezoelectric stimulation promotes osteogenesis and bone repair remains unclear yet, limiting the design and clinical application of piezoelectric materials for bone repair. Herein, a piezoelectric BaTiO3/Ti6Al4V (BT/Ti) scaffold was prepared by hydrothermal synthesis of a uniform BaTiO3 layer on three dimensionally printed Ti6Al4V scaffold. The BT/Ti scaffolds exhibited piezoelectricity and favorable biocompatibility with RAW264.7 macrophages after polarization. In vitro results demonstrated that the piezoelectric effects of the poled BT/Ti scaffolds promoted M2 polarization of macrophages and immunoregulatory osteogenesis of MC-3T3 osteoblasts. In a subcutaneous implantation model, a higher proportion of CD68⁺ CD206⁺ M2 macrophages was observed in the tissues around the poled BT/Ti scaffolds under low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) stimulation. Improvements in macrophage M2 polarization and bone regeneration were further identified in a sheep cervical corpectomy model. RNA sequencing and mechanistic investigation revealed that the piezoelectric BT/Ti (poled) scaffolds inhibited the inflammatory MAPK/JNK signaling cascade and activated oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and ATP synthesis in macrophages. Collectively, our study provides a promising method for regulating the immune microenvironment and enhancing bone regeneration using polarized piezoelectric BT/Ti scaffolds.