A review of the structure-property relationships in lead-free piezoelectric (1-x)Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-(x)BaTiO3

Piezoelectric materials are increasingly being investigated for energy harvesting applications where (1-x) Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-(x)BaTiO3 (NBT-BT) is an important lead-free piezoelectric material with potential to be used as an actuator in energy harvesting devices. Much effort has been put into modifying NBT-BT to tune the properties for specific applications, but there is currently no consensus regarding the structure-property relationships in this material, making targeted, rational design a major challenge. In this review, we will summarize the current body of knowledge of NBT-BT and discuss contradicting studies, unresolved problems, and future directions in the field. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.