High strain lead-based perovskite ferroelectrics

High strain piezoelectric ceramics are state of the art materials for high precision positioning devices. Different material systems under investigation, attempts to further improve the strain behavior by formation of textured microstructures and the possibilities to increase the operation temperature are reviewed. Furthermore, an analysis is given of recent advances to achieve a better understanding of the microscopic mechanisms contributing to the macroscopic strain behavior. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.