Ceramic material comprising a pseudo-cubic phase, a process for preparing and uses of the same

A method of preparing a ceramic material comprising:

• mixing precursors of a ceramic material in predetermined molar ratios, the ceramic material having chemical formula of x(Bi0.5Na0.5)Ti3-y(Bi0.5K0.5)TiO3-z1SrHfO3-z2SrZrO3;
• and
• utilizing the mixture of precursors in solid-state synthesis to prepare the ceramic material,
• wherein:
• x+y+z1+z2=1;
• y and (z1+z2) are greater than zero;
• x is greater than or equal to zero;
• the ceramic material comprises at least 70 vol. % of a pseudo-cubic phase having at least one of an axial ratio c/a of from 0.995 to 1.005 or a rhombohedral angle of 90±0.5 degrees and wherein the ceramic material is capable of undergoing a field induced reversible transition from the pseudo-cubic phase to a tetragonal phase having an axial ratio c/a of between 1.005 and 1.02;
• and
• the predetermined molar ratios of precursors are determined based on:
• the molar ratio of (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3 precursors to (Bi0.5K0.5)TiO3 precursors required to form a tetragonal phase;
• and
• the molar ratio of at least one of SrHfO3 precursors or SrZrO3 precursors to (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3 and (Bi0.5K0.5)TiO3 precursors required to form the ceramic material which comprises a major proportion of the pseudo-cubic phase.

An actuator for a droplet deposition apparatus comprising:

• a ceramic material having a chemical formula of x(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-v(Bi0.5K0.5)TiO3-z1SrHfO3-z2SrZrO3;
• an actuating element configured to cause an ejection of fluid from a chamber;
• a first electrode adjacent to the ceramic material;
• and
• a second electrode adjacent to the ceramic material
• wherein:
• x+y+z1+z2=1;
• y and (z1+z2) are greater than zero;
• x≥0;
• the ceramic material comprises at least 70 vol. % of a pseudo-cubic phase having at least one of an axial ratio c/a of from 0.995 to 1.005 or a rhombohedral angle of 90±0.5 degrees and wherein the ceramic material is capable of undergoing a field induced reversible transition from the pseudo-cubic phase to a tetragonal phase having an axial ratio c/a of between 1.005 and 1.02;
• and
• the first electrode and the second electrode are configured to apply an electric field to the ceramic material to cause the ejection.