Revolutionary Piezoceramic Strain Enhancement Achieved Using Critus In-Situ Measurement Technology
Breakthrough research published in Nature demonstrates >1% strain in polycrystalline piezoceramics using advanced in-situ instrumentation by Critus Pty Ltd, revealing new electromechanical behaviors and enabling next-generation actuator technologies.
by John Daniels · – 4 minutes to read
Piezoelectric Materials
In-Situ X-Ray Diffraction
Bending Deformations
Based on: Das Adhikary, G., et al. "Longitudinal strain enhancement and bending deformations in piezoceramics." Nature 637, 333â338 (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08292-1
Instrumentation: Critus Transmission Geometry Cell
Breaking the 1% Strain Barrier in Polycrystalline Piezoceramics
A groundbreaking study published in Nature has demonstrated that polycrystalline piezoceramics can achieve longitudinal strains exceeding 1% - a performance previously thought possible only in single crystals. This breakthrough, achieved by researchers from the Indian Institute of Science and collaborators, was made possible through sophisticated in-situ characterization using specialized instrumentation developed by Critus Pty Ltd.
The Research Breakthrough
The research team, led by Rajeev Ranjan and colleagues, showed that different behaviours can be observed in thin sections of piezoelectric ceramic. In the case of a PZT composition, reducing the thickness of the polycrystalline material to the point where grains enter a triaxial-biaxial crossover regime dramatically increases domain-switching behavior. In PbZr₀.₅₂Ti₀.₄₈O₃ (PZT) ceramics at the morphotropic phase boundary, they achieved a remarkable 300% increase in longitudinal strain - from approximately 0.3% in 0.7 mm thick samples to nearly 1% in 0.2 mm thick discs.
In several other compositions however, oxygen vacancies were observed to create asymmetrical switching at positive and negative surfaces, causing thin piezoceramics to bend under applied electric fields. This discovery opens new possibilities for electromechanical actuation applications.
Critical Role of Critus Instrumentation
The success of this research hinged on the ability to simultaneously monitor structural changes and mechanical deformations in real-time under applied electric fields. Critus Pty Ltd's specialized in-situ measurement systems provided the essential capabilities for these challenging experiments:
In-Situ X-ray Diffraction Under Electric Fields
The Critus system enabled real-time X-ray diffraction measurements while applying electric fields to the piezoceramic samples at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF). This capability was crucial for:
- Tracking domain switching dynamics during electrical loading
- Monitoring crystallographic texture evolution
- Correlating structural changes with macroscopic strain response
- Capturing the asymmetric switching behavior at different electrode interfaces
Critus T-Cell at ESRF Facility
Optical Measurements
Integrating optical measurement capabilities to the Critus instrumentation allowed researchers to:
- Directly observe and quantify the bending deformations in thin piezoceramics
- Monitor real-time strain evolution with high spatial resolution
- Capture video evidence of the electrobending phenomenon
- Correlate optical observations with diffraction data for comprehensive understanding
Technical Advantages of the Critus System
The Critus instrumentation platform offers several key advantages that made this research possible:
- Synchronized Measurements: The ability to simultaneously acquire diffraction and optical data under identical electrical loading conditions ensures accurate correlation between structural and mechanical responses.
- High-Field Capability: The system can apply the high electric fields (up to 7.5 kV) necessary to achieve saturation of the strain mechanisms.
- Compatibility with Synchrotron Beamlines: The compact design integrates seamlessly with synchrotron X-ray beamlines, enabling diffraction studies.
- Real-Time Data Acquisition: Fast data collection capabilities capture transient phenomena during electric field cycling.
Figure from Nature Paper
Impact and Future Applications
This research demonstrates how advanced instrumentation can unlock new understanding in materials science. The ability to achieve >1% strain in polycrystalline ceramics, combined with the observations of mechanisms influencing bending deformations, promises to revolutionize applications in:
- Precision positioning systems
- Ultrasound transducers
- Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)
- Adaptive optics
- Energy harvesting devices
Conclusion
The groundbreaking results achieved in this study underscore the critical importance of advanced characterization tools in materials research. Critus Pty Ltd's in-situ measurement systems, with their unique ability to simultaneously probe structural and mechanical responses under applied electric fields, have proven instrumental in revealing new phenomena that challenge conventional understanding of piezoceramic behavior.
As researchers continue to engineer these mechanisms across different piezoelectric material systems, the demand for sophisticated characterization tools will only grow. Critus remains committed to developing innovative instrumentation solutions that enable the next generation of materials discoveries.
For more information about Critus Pty Ltd's in-situ diffraction and imaging systems for electric field studies, please visit critus.com.au or Contact Us
About the Author
John Daniels
CEO, Critus Pty Ltd
John Daniels is currently an Associate Professor at the UNSW School of Materials Science and Engineering. John was awarded his PhD in 2007 from the School of Physics at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia for work in the field of time-resolved neutron scattering in ferroelectric materials. John spent three years as a postdoctoral researcher within the Structure of Materials group at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, France. During this time John specialised in the application of high-energy x-ray scattering techniques to the study of functional and mechanical properties of materials. John's current research is in the application of advanced neutron and x-ray scattering techniques for multi-length-scale structural analysis of functional materials.