Bi1/2K1/2VO3 is a lead-free PbTiO3-type compound with a tetragonality (c/a = 1.054) comparable to that of typical ferroelectric PbTiO3 (c/a = 1.064) with negative
thermal expansion (NTE) during the tetragonal-to-cubic phase transition;
therefore, Bi1/2K1/2VO3 is a potential
lead-free NTE material if its metastable perovskite structure can
be maintained at high temperatures. In the present experiment, electron
doping in Bi1/2K1/2VO3 was conducted
through substituting K+ with La3+ to suppress
the tetragonality and achieve NTE. La substitution successfully suppressed
the tetragonality of Bi1/2K1/2VO3 and also improved its thermal stability. Moreover, both composition-
and temperature-induced tetragonal-to-cubic phase transitions occurred.
In particular, a large volume shrinkage with a large negative thermal
coefficient of expansion (CTE) was obtained for Bi0.5K0.46La0.04VO3 during the tetragonal-to-cubic
phase transition (ΔV = −0.66%). Hence,
this study extends the NTE family and also sheds light on the exploration
of lead-free piezoelectric materials with controllable thermal expansion.