The structure, field-induced strain, polarization and dielectric response of lead-free SrZrO3-modified Bi1/
2(Na0.80K0.20)1/2TiO3 (abbreviated as BNKTeSZ100x, with x ¼ 0e0.05) ceramics were investigated. The Xray
diffraction analysis of BNKTeSZ100x ceramics reveals no remarkable change in the crystal structure
within the studied composition range. Around critical composition (x ¼ 0.03) at a driving field of
6 kV mm1, large unipolar strain of 0.37% (Smax/Emax ¼ 617) was obtained at room temperature. The
ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of BNKT ceramics were significantly increased at 2 mol%. At
x ¼ 0.02, remnant polarization reached a maximum value of 34 mC cm2, while the piezoelectric constant
(d33) attained maximum value of 190 pC/N. These results indicate that BNKTeSZ100x ceramics can be
considered as promising candidate materials for lead-free piezoelectric actuator applications.