Local structure analysis of Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-BaTiO3 solid solutions

Solid solutions of Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 (BNT) and BaTiO3 (BT) with ABO(3)-type perovskite system is known to possess good ferroelectric properties. A local structural analysis and an electronic structure analysis of high-quality BNT-BT solid solutions were performed using synchrotron radiation X-rays to clarify the mechanism of the enhanced ferroelectric properties. The BNT-BT solid solution undergoes a series of phase transitions to tetragonal structures with space groups P4bm and P4mm. The local structure analysis revealed reduced off-center shift of A-site atoms resulting of the BT substitution. The local structure obtained by high-energy X-ray total scattering is consistent with the electronic structure obtained by X-ray absorption spectroscopy.