Unprecedented Electro-Optic Performance in Lead-Free Transparent Ceramics

A high-performance lead-free electro-optic (EO) transparent material is introduced and used in an EO device operating up to 10 kHz. The BZT-BCT ceramic, named as BXT, has an effective DC EO coefficient, r(c) = 530 pm V-1, which is higher than state-of-the-art materials such as LiNbO3. The high EO response can be leveraged for miniaturization and/or reduction of the operating voltage of EO devices.