Polarity Modulation Induced High Electrostrain Performance with Near-Zero Hysteresis in a (Sr 0.7 Bi 0.2□0.1 )TiO 3 -Based System.

High-precision piezo actuators necessitate dielectrics with high electrostrain performance with low hysteresis. Polarity-modulated (Sr 0.7 Bi 0.2□0.1 )TiO 3 -based ceramics exhibit extraordinarily discrete multiphase coexistence regions: (i) the relaxor phase coexistence (RPC) region with local weakly polar tetragonal ( T ) and pseudocubic (Pc) short-range polar nanodomains and (ii) the ferroelectric phase coexistence (FPC) region with T long-range domains and Pc nanodomains. The RPC composition features a specially high and pure electrostrain performance with near-zero hysteresis ( S ∼ 0.185%, Q 33 ∼ 0.038 m 4 ·C -2 ), which is double those of conventional Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 -based ceramics. Particular interest is paid to the RPC and FPC with multiscale characterization to unravel local structure-performance relationships. Guided by piezoelectric force microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and phase-field simulations, the RPC composition with multiphase low-angle weakly polar nanodomains shows local structural heterogeneity and contributes to a flat local free energy profile and thus to nanodomain switching and superior electrostrain performance, in contrast to the FPC composition with a macroscopic domain that shows stark hysteresis. This work provides a paradigm to design high-precision actuator materials with large electrostrain and ultralow hysteresis, extending our knowledge of multiphase coexistence species in ferroelectrics.