Phase structure,piezoelectric, ferroelectric,and electric-field-induced strain properties of Nb-modified 0.8Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3−0.2Sr0.85Bi0.1TiO3 ceramics

0.8Bi_0.5Na_0.5Ti_(1-x)Nb_xO₃−0.2Sr_0.85Bi_0.1TiO₃ (BNT-SBT-xNb, x = 0.00, 0.01, 0.02, and 0.03) piezoelectric ceramics were prepared by traditional solid state reaction and the influence of Nb substitution on the phase structure, ferroelectric, piezoelectric, and electric-field-induced strain properties in BNT-SBT ceramics were studied. XRD results exhibited that Nb⁵⁺ ions could fully diffuse into BNT-SBT structure to form a solid solution when x = 0.01. P-E loops and S-E curves suggested that the ferroelectric phase transformed to ergodic relaxor state (FE-to-ER) with the increasing the amount of Nb additive, indicating the ferroelectric long-ranged order was disturbed by the excess of Nb. With increasing Nb doping, phase transition temperature from normal ferroelectric to ergodic relaxor (short for T_F-R) could be reduced from 120 °C to 40 °C. Furthermore, for sample with x = 0.01, the normalized strain d₃₃^* got a maximum value ~571 pm/V due to the phase transition from ergodic relaxor to ferroelectric (ER-to-FE) under electric field.     

Significantly reduced hysteresis in (Fe1/2Nb1/2)4+-modified 0.75Na1/2Bi1/2TiO3-0.25SrTiO3 lead-free piezoceramics with large strain

Aiming to get the NBT-based lead-free ceramic with high strain and low strain hysteresis for practical actuator applications, a solid solution of complex-ion (Fe_1/2Nb_1/2)⁴⁺doped 0.75Na_1/2Bi_1/2TiO₃-0.25SrTiO₃ ((Na_1/2Bi_1/2)_0.75Sr_0.25Ti_1-x(Fe_1/2Nb_1/2)_xO₃, abbreviated as NBST-100xFN) was designed and prepared, and its phase structure, micromorphology, ferroelectric, strain, dielectric and piezoelectric performances were systematically investigated. It was found that the incorporation of (Fe_1/2Nb_1/2)⁴⁺ causes a structure transition from the ferroelectric/relaxor (FE/RE) mixed phases to relaxor (RE) phase, increasing to a promising strain performance at x = 0.04 featured by not only a moderate strain value of 0.26%, corresponding normalized strain d₃₃* of 371 pm/V, but also a very small strain hysteresis of 22%. In addition, the NBST-4FN ceramic sample also exhibits an unexceptionable frequency-dependence of unipolar strain. This study provides a new understanding and design idea for the practical actuator application of high strain NBT-based lead-free ceramics with ultra-low hysteresis.     

Large strain response in Li/Nb co-doped Bi0.5(Na0.8K0.2)0.5TiO3 lead-free piezoceramics

A series of (Bi_0.5Na_0.4K_0.1)Ti_0.98Nb_0.02O₃-xLi lead-free ceramics were fabricated using the solid-state reaction technique. The effects of Li/Nb cations on the structural and electrical properties of the ceramics were investigated. All the sintered ceramics exhibited pure perovskite structure and the average grain size increased slightly with increasing the Li content. Shape of the P-E loops illustrated the relaxor characteristic of all the samples. A giant strain of 0.4% was obtained at 60 kV/cm at x = 0.01 and the corresponding normalized strain was up to 683 pm/V, moreover, the strain exhibits excellent fatigue-resistance behavior. The giant strain can be attributed to the ferroelectric-relaxor phase transition under external driving electric field. These results indicate the sintered Li/Nb co-doped lead-free ceramics can be promising candidate for actuator applications.     

Giant field-induced strain in Nb2O5-modified (Bi0.5Na0.5)0.94Ba0.06TiO3 lead-free ceramics

Lead-free piezoceramics (Na_(1+x)/2Bi_(1-x)/2)_0.94Ba_0.06Ti_1-xNb_xO₃ (BTN100x) were prepared using conventional solid-state reaction method. The structures, field- induced strain, AC impedance of sintered ceramics were investigated. The pure perovskite solid solution BTN3 exhibited giant electric-field-induced strain of 0.478% under an electric field of 70 kV/cm at ambient temperature, meanwhile, the normalized strain (S_max/E_max) reached up to 654 pm/V. The giant strain was insensitive to temperature and exhibited excellent fatigue resistance performance within 10⁶ switching cycles, making it a promising candidate material for actuator applications. Complex AC impedance spectra confirmed the contribution of grain effect to resistivity behavior. The field-induced giant strain was attributed to the phase transition between ferroelectrics and relaxor ferroelectrics induced by introducing Nb₂O₅.     

Anomalously large lattice strain contributions from rhombohedral phases in BiFeO3-based high-temperature piezoceramics estimated by means of in-situ synchrotron x-ray diffraction

Thermally-stable (0.75-x)BiFeO₃-0.25PbTiO₃-xBa(Zr_0.25Ti_0.75)O₃ (0.1?≤?x?≤?0.27) piezoelectric ceramics were reported to have excellent dielectric and electromechanical properties of d₃₃～405 pC/N, k_p～46%, ε₃₃^T/ε₀～1810, tanδ～3.1% and T_c～421?°C close to tetragonal (T)-rhombohedral (R) morphotropic phase boundary. The dielectric measurement indicates that R ferroelectric phase is gradually transformed into relaxor ferroelectric across the phase boundary due to the substitution of BZT for BF. The transmission electron microscopy and convergent beam electron diffraction provide clear evidences that both the R-T phase coexistence and polar nanodomains contribute to enhanced piezoelectric properties at x?=?0.19 through cooperatively facilitating polarization orientation. In combination with the macroscopic piezoelectric coefficient measurement, the quantitative analysis of synchrotron diffraction data under electric fields suggests that extremely large lattice strain contribution predominantly from R phases plus little extrinsic domain switching contribution should dominate the piezoelectric response of the x?=?0.19 sample, mainly owing to both irreversible field-induced T to R phase transition and irreversible non-180° domain switching.     

Electrical properties and relaxor phase evolution of Nb-Modified Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-Bi0.5K0.5TiO3-SrTiO3 lead-free ceramics

In this work, the crystalline phase, domain structure, and electrical properties of [Bi_0.5(Na_0.84K_0.16)_0.5]_0.96Sr_0.04Ti_1-xNb_xO₃ (x = 0.010–0.030) ceramics are investigated. Increasing the Nb content induces the phase transition from coexistent rhombohedral and tetragonal phases to a single pseudo-cubic phase, and the lamellar ferroelectric domains evolve into polar nanoregions. Decreased ferroelectric-to-relaxor transition temperature and enhanced frequency dispersion are found in the temperature-dependent dielectric constant and loss, implying a transition from the non-ergodic to ergodic relaxor state. The Nb substitution significantly degrades the long-range ferroelectric order with sharply decreased piezoelectric coefficients from ? 140 to ? 1 pC/N. However, a large strain of 0.32% at 5 kV/mm (normalized strain of 640 pm/V) is obtained around the critical composition of x = 0.0225. The composition of x = 0.030 shows good temperature insensitivity of the strain response, characterized by 308 pm/V with less than 15% reduction from 25 °C to 125 °C.     

Large E-field induced strain and polar evolution in lead-free Zr-doped 92.5%(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3–7.5%BaTiO3 ceramics

Structure, dielectric permittivity, strain, electric (E) polarization, and piezoelectric responses of (Bi_1/2Na_1/2)_0.925Ba_0.075(Ti_1−xZr_x)O₃ (BNT7.5BT-100xZr; x = 0–0.04) ceramics were investigated as functions of poling E field and temperature. The BNT7.5BT ceramic reveals a phase transition from P4bm nanodomains to long-range-ordered P4mm domains. The Zr-doped BNT7.5BT ceramic reveals a reversible change of unit cell with dynamically fluctuating polar nanoregions, which are responsible for the large strain. The poled BNT7.5BT ceramic displays a depolarization temperature of T_d = 90 °C, which correspond to a phase transition from ferroelectric to relaxor states. The Zr-doped BNT7.5BT ceramics have Burns temperatures (T_B) in the region of 400–435 °C, below which polar nanoregions begin to develop. The Zr-doped BNT7.5BT ceramics display wide diffuse phase transitions, suggesting a transition from R + T to T phases. BNT7.5BT-2Zr ceramic shows a temperature dependent linear large strain of 0.482% at 150 °C and can be a potential candidate for lead-free actuator.     

Insights into the correlation between strain and electrostrictive coefficient of potassium sodium niobate based ceramics from relaxor structure

Eco-friendly (K, Na)NbO₃ (KNN)-based electrostrictive materials have attracted increasing attention as potential candidates for high-precision displacement actuators. Although a series of breakthroughs have increased the electrostrictive coefficient of KNN-based materials with relaxor behaviour (Q₃₃ > 0.0450 m⁴/C²), the electrostrictive strain is still low (<0.1%), making the improvement of the electrostrictive strain a crucial next step. Here, a KNN-based relaxor ceramic of 0.96K_0.48Na_0.52Nb_1-xSb_xO₃-0.04Bi_0.5Na_0.5ZrO₃-0.3%Fe₂O₃ (KNNS_x-BNZ) was designed to simultaneously achieve high electrostrictive strain and Q₃₃. The phase structure transformed from the T phase to the C phase with increasing Sb concentration, which also introduced fine grains and domains. A high electrostrictive strain (～0.102%) and Q₃₃ (～0.0461 m⁴/C²) were obtained at x = 0.09 through a small adjustment of the structure of the relaxor, while an electrostrictive strain with low hysteresis (<10.5%) and an outstanding temperature stability (≥95%) were achieved in the broadened temperature range of 20–180 °C, representing properties superior to those of previous KNN-based and typical PZT-based materials. Our results will help researchers understand how to balance the strain and electrostrictive coefficient in lead-free materials, and thereby contribute toward accelerating the application of KNN-based electrostrictive materials in actuators.     

Large strain response with low driving field in Bi1/2Na1/2TiO3–Bi1/2K1/2TiO3–Bi(Mg2/3Nb1/3)O3 ceramics

The (1?x)(0.8Bi_1/2Na_1/2TiO₃–0.2Bi_1/2K_1/2TiO₃)?xBiMg_2/3Nb_1/3O₃ (100xBMN) ternary solid solutions were designed and prepared using a conventional solid‐state reaction. Temperature and compositional dependent ferroelectric, piezoelectric, dielectric features, and structural evolution were systematically studied. At the critical composition of 2BMN, a large bipolar strain of 0.43% was achieved at 55 kV/cm, and the normalized strain reaches to 862 pm/V at a low driving electric field of 40 kV/cm. It was found that the substitution of BiMg_2/3Nb_1/3O₃ induces a transformation from ferroelectric to relaxor phase by disrupting the long range ferroelectric order. Therefore, as the external electric field was applied, a relaxor‐ferroelectric phase transition will be induced. This is contributed to the giant strain. The results above suggest that such a ternary composition is a promising candidate for application to actuator.     

BNT-based relaxor/ferroelectric systems: Improved field-induced strain property in the layered composite ceramics

Both high strain and low driving electric-field are important characteristics of the piezoelectric actuators for industrial applications, but they are difficult to achieve together in a single material system. In this work, the layered and inlay-onlay structures of relaxor/ferroelectric composites were prepared by selecting relaxor phase (0.94Bi_0.5(Na_0.82K_0.18)_0.5TiO₃-0.06NaNbO₃, BNKT-6NN) and ferroelectric phase (0.9Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃-0.1Bi_0.2Sr_0.7TiO₃, BNT-10BST) with the volume ratio of 1:1. By comparing the field-induced strains under same electric-field, the S₃₃ of the BNKT-6NN/BNT-10BST layered composites (0.17%) was greater than that of the inlay-onlay composites (0.08%) and exhibited excellent temperature stability. The superiority in field-induced strain for the layered composite ceramic was originated from the inhomogeneous distribution of internal electric-field between relaxor and ferroelectric phase and thereby could modulate the polar nanoregions to ferroelectric phase transition. In addition, the restricted phase boundary between relaxor and ferroelectric phase enhanced the potential barrier energy (E_a = 1.47 eV) and hindered the jump of defective ions (mainly oxygen vacancies) of the BNKT-6NN/BNT-10BST layered composites. The outstanding electrical properties of layered composite ceramics provide a new idea for further improving field-induced strain performance.     

Optimising dopants and properties in BiMeO3 (Me = Al,Ga, Sc,Y, Mg2/3Nb1/3, Zn2/3Nb1/3, Zn1/2Ti1/2) lead-free BaTiO3-BiFeO3 based ceramics for actuator applications

A crystallochemical framework is proposed based on electronegativity difference (e_n) and tolerance factor (t) to optimise the BiMeO₃ dopants and therefore the piezoelectric and high-field strain response in BaTiO₃-BiFeO₃ based ceramics. Compositions in the series 0.05Bi(Me)O₃-0.25BaTiO₃-0.7BiFeO₃ (BMe-BT-BF, Me: Y, Sc_1/2Y_1/2, Mg_2/3Nb_1/3, Sc, Zn_2/3Nb_1/3, Zn_1/2Ti_1/2, Ga, and Al) were fabricated using solid state synthesis and furnace cooled. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction revealed that only Bi(Mg_2/3Nb_1/3)O₃ and BiScO₃ dopants, which lie in a narrow range of e_n vs. t, form homogeneous ceramics, free from secondary phases reflected in their superior piezoelectric coefficients (d₃₃ ～145 pC/N). All other BiMeO₃ additions exhibited either secondary phases (Y) and/or promoted a two-phase perovskite matrix (Zn, Ga and Al). The promising initial properties of BiScO₃ doped compositions prompted further studies on 0.05BiScO₃-(0.95-x)BaTiO₃-(x)BiFeO₃ (BS-BT-BF, x?=?0.55, 0.60, 0.625, 0.65, and 0.70) ceramics. As x increased the structure changed from predominantly pseudocubic to rhombohedral, resulting in a transition from a relaxor-like to ferroelectric response. The largest d₃₃^* (465?pm/V) was achieved for x?=?0.625 under 5?kV/mm at the crossover from relaxor to ferroelectric behaviour. BS-BT-BF with x?=?0.625 showed >0.3% strain under 6?kV/mm up to 175?°C, demonstrating its potential for actuator applications.     

Large electric-field-induced strain in B-site complex-ion (Fe0.5Nb0.5)4+-doped Bi1/2 (Na0.82K0.12)1/2TiO3 lead-free piezoceramics

In order to obtain a new system of (Bi_1/2Na_1/2)TiO₃ (BNT) based lead-free incipient piezoceramics with large strain for practical applications of actuators, we investigated the effect of B-site complex-ion (Fe_0.5Nb_0.5)⁴⁺ (FN)-doped Bi_1/2 (Na_0.82K_0.12)_1/2TiO₃ ceramics on the phase structure, dielectric, ferroelectric, piezoelectric and electric-field-induced strain properties. All samples exhibited single perovskite phase with pseudocubic symmetry. The room temperature electric-field-induced polarization (P-E) and strain (S-E) hysteresis loops indirectly illustrated ferroelectric-to-relaxor (FE-RE) phase transition. The increasing content of FN doping decreased the FE-RE phase transition temperature, T_F-R to below room temperature and induced the reversible FE-RE phase transition, giving rise to a large strain of 0.462% with a normalized strain, d^*₃₃ of 660 pm/V at a critical composition of x = 5. A fluctuation of the dielectric curve for BNKT-5 mol% FN ceramics in the spectra around 80 °C before and after polarization suggested that the large strain response can be induced via delicate mixing of the FE and RE phase.     

Large electric field-induced strain in ternary Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-BaTiO3-Sr2MnSbO6 lead-free ceramics

The large electric-field-induced strain of Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃-BaTiO₃ based ceramic make it a potential replacement for lead-based ferroelectrics in actuator applications. Herein, a ternary system (1-x)(Bi_0.5Na_0.5)_0.935Ba_0.065TiO₃-xSr₂MnSbO₆ (BNBT6.5-xSMS) ceramic was fabricated using conventional solid-state reaction. It was found that the ferroelectric to relaxor phase transition temperature T_F-R gradually shifted to lower temperature by increasing SMS contents. The ferroelectricity and piezoelectricity of BNBT6.5 were highly affected by trace amount of SMS doping. For composition BNBT6.5-0.003SMS, where T_F-R was near room temperature, a large electric-field-induced unipolar strain of ~0.4% with high normalized strain (S_max/E_max) of 728 pm/V, which is comparable to lead-based ferroelectric/antiferroelectric ceramics, was achieved owing to the reversible electric-field-induced phase transition between a non-polar relaxor phase to a polar phase with long-range ferroelectric order.     

Ferroelectric to Relaxor Transition in BaTiO3–Bi(Zn2/3Nb1/3)O3 Ceramics

The (1?x)BaTiO₃–xBi(Zn_2/3Nb_1/3)O₃ (x = 0.01–0.30) ceramics were synthesized by solid‐state reactions. The solubility limit was determined to be x = 0.20. A systematic structural transition from a tetragonal phase (x ≤ 0.034), to a mixture of tetragonal and rhombohedral phases (0.038 ≤ x ≤ 0.20), and finally to a pseudocubic phase (x ≥ 0.22) at room temperature was identified. Dielectric measurement revealed a ferroelectric (x ≤ 0.04) to relaxor (x ≥ 0.06) transition with permittivity peak broadening and flattening, which was further verified by Raman spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Activation energies obtained from the Vogel–Fulcher model displayed an increasing trend from ~0.03 eV for x ~ 0.05, to unusually high values (>0.20 eV) for the compositions with x ≥ 0.15. With the increase in Bi(Zn_2/3Nb_1/3)O₃ content, the polarization hysteresis demonstrated a tendency from high nonlinearity to sublinearity coupled with the reduction in remnant polarization and coervice field. The deconvolution of the irreversible/reversible polarization contribution was enabled by first‐order reversal curve distributions, which indicates that the decreasing polarization nonlinearity with the increase in Bi(Zn_2/3Nb_1/3)O₃ concentration could be related with the change from the ferroelectric domain and domain wall contributions to the weakly coupled relaxor behaviors.     

High electric field-induced strain properties in La-doped Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3–PbZrO3–PbTiO3 relaxor ferroelectric ceramics

Piezoelectric ceramics with high strain response and low hysteresis are highly in demand for high-performance actuator applications. Unfortunately, the trade-off relationship between large field-induced strain and low hysteresis in piezoelectric ceramics is a key challenge for designing high-performance piezoelectric actuators. Herein, ymol%La-doped 0.10 Pb(In_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃-xPbZrO₃-(0.90–x)PbTiO₃ [0.10PIN-xPZ-(0.90-x)PT: ymol%La] ternary relaxor ferroelectric ceramics were prepared by conventional solid-state reaction technique. Pb(In_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃ (PIN) as a relaxor end member was introduced into (Pb,La) (Zr,Ti)O₃ (PLZT) system to improve relaxor characteristics and strain properties. A giant strain of 0.23% was obtained in 0.10PIN-0.59PZ-0.31 PT: 8mol%La ceramic at the electric field of 20 kV/cm, with a high piezoelectric d₃₃* of 1150 pm/V and low hysteresis H_y of 6.4%, exhibiting a potential application in high-performance piezoelectric actuators. Furthermore, the effects of La ion doping and components on the ferroelectric, dielectric and electric field-induced strain properties were investigated, and provides a new way for improve the strain properties of piezoelectric materials.     

Tailoring the microstructure of molybdenum disilicide matrix composites with Nb additions

The effect of Nb addition on the microstructure of MoSi₂ alloy was studied. Two kind of composition designations were adopted to get different microstructures. In the first group, the compositions are designed as Mo_1/3(1−x)Si_2/3(1−x)–xNb (x=0.05, 0.1 and 0.4375). In this group, a composite containing MoSi₂ and Nb₅Si₃ as well as Nb₅Si₃C is formed. The volume fraction of Nb₅Si₃ and Nb₅Si₃C phases increase with Nb addition and become the predominant matrix phase when Nb addition is 43.75%. In the second group, the compositions are designed as (Mo_1−x, Nb_x)Si₂. A composite containing MoSi₂ and NbSi₂ as well as a small amount of Nb₅Si₃ is formed.     

Ferroelectric‒to‒relaxor crossover in KNN‒based lead‒free piezoceramics

This study investigated the phase transition behavior and electrical properties of (K_0.5Na_0.5)(Nb_1-xZr_x)O₃ (KNN?100xZ) and (K_0.5Na_0.5)NbO₃–yBaZrO₃ (KNN–100yBZ) lead–free piezoelectric ceramics. The phase transitions in crystal structures were compared in KNN ceramics between single Zr⁴⁺ doping and Ba²⁺Zr⁴⁺ co?doping. Piezoelectric properties such as the piezoelectric constant (d₃₃) and electromechanical coupling factor (k_p) are optimized for KNN?6BZ ceramics and were clarified via the polymorphic phase transition from the orthorhombic to pseudocubic phase. The fitted degree of diffuseness (γ) for a phase transition from the modified Curie–Weiss law indicated that KNN ceramics as ferroelectrics are gradually transformed through BaZrO₃ modification. Accordingly, the enhanced strain properties at y = 0.08 consist of coexisting ferroelectric domains and polar nanoregions that are supported by ferroelectric–to–relaxor crossover in KNN?100BZ ceramics.     

Antiferroelectricity in tantalum doped (Bi0.5Na0.5)0.94Ba0.06TiO3 lead-free ceramics

(Bi_0.5Na_0.5)_0.94Ba_0.06(Ti_1−xTa_x)O₃ (x=0.00–0.04) lead-free polycrystalline ceramics were synthesized using the solid state reaction route, and their crystal structures and electrical properties were systematically studied. With the introduction of Ta substitution, the relaxor antiferroelectric phase with tetragonal P4bm symmetry is stabilized. The representative double polarization hysteresis loops and sprout shaped strain curves for antiferroelectric ceramics are observed at higher Ta contents with x=0.01–0.02 at room temperature. x=0.01 shows the largest strain of 3.81‰ under 60 kV/cm, indicating a good candidate for actuator applications. The polarization and strain hysteresis loops are also evaluated to verify the temperature-induced normal ferroelectric phase to relaxor antiferroelectric phase transition at temperature up to 120 °C. The energy storage density and efficiency at various temperatures are calculated and analyzed in the compositions of x=0.00–0.02. The results indicate that the energy storage density becomes more temperature independent with the increase of Ta concentration, which are promising for applications in high-temperature capacitors.     

X-ray diffraction,dielectric and Raman studies of the Ba1−xNaxTi1−x(Nb1−ySby)xO3 ceramics

Ba_1−xNa_xTi_1−x(Nb_1−ySb_y)_xO₃ (BNTNSO) ceramics with compositions (x=0.05; y=0; 0.10; 0.20 and 0.30) have been prepared by conventional solid-state method and sintered in the temperature range 1350–1400 °C. Phase purity and structure are investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) data. The structural study showed that our synthesized compounds are single phase and crystallize in the tetragonal system with P4mm space group at room temperature. Based on a phenomenological model, dielectric and Raman properties of BNTNSO compounds have been explored. Referring to this model, dielectric properties of ceramics have been investigated in broad ranges of temperature (100–500 K) and frequency 1–10³ kHz). The dielectric permittivity evolution as a function of temperature and frequency has exhibited a classical ferroelectric character for 0≤y≤0.20 and a relaxor type behavior for y=0.30. The investigation of Raman spectra as a function of temperatures and compositions, confirmed the dielectric behavior. These results indicate that the y=0.20 composition is of extreme significance as far as its technological and industrial applications are concerned, which refers basically to its interesting physical properties and environmentally friendly characters, especially as its transition temperature is equal to the room temperature. The used samples show that the substitution of Nb by Sb favors and maintains the relaxor characters without changing the transition temperature.     

Enhancement of relaxor properties by Nb doping in Ba0.8Sr0.12Ca0.08TiO3 lead-free ferroelectric ceramics

Niobium-doped barium strontium calcium titanate (BSCTN) ceramics were prepared using a conventional solid-state reaction method. The effects of Nb contents on crystal structure, microstructure, dielectric properties and ferroelectric relaxor behavior of the BSCTN ceramics were investigated. The BSCTN ceramics showed dense microstructures with uniform crystal grains with Nb doping. It was demonstrated that Nb⁵⁺ entered the B-site of the perovskite BSCTN ceramic and substituted for Ti⁴⁺, which caused the expansion and distortion of crystal lattice of the tetragonal BSCTN ceramic. Doping of Nb resulted in more diffused phase transition and lower Curie temperature of the BSCTN ceramics. The diffuseness degree indicator γ increased until the addition of Nb dopant exceeded 1.5 mol% where a maximum γ of 1.98 was achieved. Among the compositions assayed in this work, the BSCTN ceramics with Nb contents of approximately 1.0–1.5 mol% yielded promising relaxor properties that made them alternative sources for development of environmental friendly lead-free relaxor ferroelectric materials.