We discovered large electric-field-induced strain in pyro-vanadate-phosphate Cu2−xZnxV1.8P0.2O7. Distinct from conventionally used piezoelectric materials including lead-zirconate-titanate, this material expands almost isotropically at room temperature when an electric field is applied. This volume change, exceeding 1000 ppm under the field of E = 3900 V/cm, is of the largest class induced by an electric field. The strain is phenomenologically interpreted as electrostriction because it is symmetric about E = 0 and because it obeys a higher term than E-linear such as E squared. The present x-ray diffraction experiments suggest that the applied electric field distorts the crystal lattice, although there is no structural phase transition. This material performs a volume-change-driven actuator function that is distinct from the strain-driven counterpart of piezoelectric materials. The discovery of actuator functionality in a material system with a non-perovskite structure, unlike the actuator materials developed to date, is a major breakthrough for future actuator engineering.

中文翻译：

---

焦钒酸盐磷酸盐中电场引起的体积变化：走向替代执行器架构


我们在焦钒酸盐磷酸 Cu2−xZnxV1.8P0.2O7 中发现了大的电场诱导应变。与传统使用的压电材料（包括锆钛酸铅）不同，该材料在施加电场时在室温下几乎各向同性地膨胀。在 E = 3900 V/cm 的电场下，这种体积变化超过 1000 ppm，是电场引起的最大体积变化。该应变在现象学上被解释为电致伸缩，因为它关于 E = 0 对称，并且它服从比 E 线性更高的项，例如 E 平方。目前的 X 射线衍射实验表明，尽管没有结构相变，但所施加的电场使晶格扭曲。这种材料执行体积变化驱动的致动器功能，这与压电材料的应变驱动对应物不同。与迄今为止开发的致动器材料不同，在具有非钙钛矿结构的材料系统中发现致动器功能是未来致动器工程的重大突破。