Tailoring the physical properties of (Ba, Ca)(Ti, Zr)O3 - xSm2O3 nanocomposite films

(Ba_0.85Ca_0.15)(Ti_0.9Zr_0.1)O₃ (BCZT) -xSm₂O₃ nanocomposite films with different molar ratio x were successfully deposited on SrRuO₃-coated (001) SrTiO₃ substrates by pulsed laser deposition. The strain state of nanocomposites is closely related to planar lattice mismatch between film and substrate, and vertical lattice mismatch between secondary phase and film matrix. It is found that the leakage current density was greatly suppressed by the secondary phase in Sm₂O₃-rich nanocomposites, while superior piezoelectric response was obtained in BCZT-0.125Sm₂O₃ with an effective piezoelectric coefficient d_33,eff=137±5pm/V.