Multilayer PZT 95/5 Antiferroelectric Film Energy Storage Devices with Giant Power Density.

A new type of energy storage devices utilizing multilayer Pb(Zr0.95 Ti0.05 )0.98 Nb0.02 O3 films is studied experimentally and numerically. To release the stored energy, the multilayer ferroelectric structures are subjected to adiabatic compression perpendicular to the polarization direction. Obtained results indicate that electrical interference between layers (10-120 layers) during stress wave transit through the structures has an effect on the generated current waveforms, but no impact on the released electric charge. The multilayer films undergo a pressure-induced phase transition to antiferroelectric phase at 1.7 GPa adiabatic compression and become completely depolarized, releasing surface screening charge with density equal to their remnant polarization. An energy density of 3 J cm-3 is successfully achieved with giant power density on the order of 2 MW cm-3 , which is four orders of magnitude higher than that of any other type of energy storage device. The outputs of multilayer structures can be precisely controlled by the parameters of the ferroelectric layer and the number of layers. Multilayer film modules with a volume of 0.7 cm3 are capable of producing 2.4 kA current, not achievable in electrochemical capacitors or batteries, which will greatly enhance the miniaturization and integration requirements for emerging high-power applications.

Ultrahigh energy density harvested from domain-engineered relaxor ferroelectric single crystals under high strain rate loading.

Relaxor ferroelectric single crystals have triggered revolution in electromechanical systems due to their superior piezoelectric properties. Here the results are reported on experimental studies of energy harvested from (1-y-x)Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3-(y)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-(x)PbTiO3 (PIN-PMN-PT) crystals under high strain rate loading. Precise control of ferroelectric properties through composition, size and crystallographic orientation of domains made it possible to identify single crystals that release up to three times more electric charge density than that produced by PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 (PZT 52/48) and PbZr0.95Ti0.05O3 (PZT 95/5) ferroelectric ceramics under identical loading conditions. The obtained results indicate that PIN-PMN-PT crystals became completely depolarized under 3.9 GPa compression. It was found that the energy density generated in the crystals during depolarization in the high voltage mode is four times higher than that for PZT 52/48 and 95/5. The obtained results promise new single crystal applications in ultrahigh-power transducers that are capable of producing hundreds kilovolt pulses and gigawatt-peak power microwave radiation.

Effect of shock front geometry on shock depolarization of Pb(Zr(0.52)Ti(0.48))O3 ferroelectric ceramics.

By use of experimentation, we detected a shock wave geometry effect on the depolarization of poled Pb(Zr(0.52)Ti(0.48))O(3) (PZT 52/48) ferroelectrics. It follows from the experimental results that shock front geometry is one of key parameters in the shock depolarization of PZT 52/48 ferroelectrics. This shock depolarization effect forms a fundamental limit to miniaturization of explosive-driven shock-wave ferroelectric generators (FEGs). Based on obtained experimental results, we developed miniature generators that reliably produce pulsed voltages exceeding 140 kV.

Note: utilizing Pb(Zr(0.95)Ti(0.05))O3 ferroelectric ceramics to scale down autonomous explosive-driven shock-wave ferroelectric generators.

Further miniaturization of recently designed autonomous ferroelectric generators (FEGs) [S. I. Shkuratov, J. Baird, and E. F. Talantsev, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 82, 086107 (2011)], which are based on the effect of explosive-shock-wave depolarization of poled ferroelectrics is achieved. The key miniaturization factor was the utilization of high-energy density Pb(Zr(0.95)Ti(0.05))O(3) (PZT 95/5) ferroelectric ceramics as energy-carrying elements of FEGs instead of the previously used Pb(Zr(0.52)Ti(0.48))O(3) (PZT 52/48). A series of experiments demonstrated that FEGs based on smaller PZT 95/5 ferroelectric elements are capable of producing the same output voltage as those based on PZT 52/48 elements twice as large. It follows from the experimental results that the FEG output voltage is directly proportional to the thickness of PZT 95/5 samples. A comparison of the operation of FEGs based on PZT 95/5 and on PZT 52/48 ferroelectrics is presented.

The depolarization of Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 ferroelectrics by cylindrical radially expanding shock waves and its utilization for miniature pulsed power.

The effects of depolarization of Pb(Zr(0.52)Ti(0.48))O(3) (PZT 52∕48) poled ferroelectrics by cylindrical radially expanding shock waves propagated along and across the polarization vector P(0) were experimentally detected. Miniature (total volume 100 cm(3)) autonomous generators based on these effects were capable of producing output voltage pulses with amplitudes up to 25 kV and output energies exceeding 1 J.

Note: Miniature 120-kV autonomous generator based on transverse shock-wave depolarization of Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 ferroelectrics.

The design of autonomous ultrahigh-voltage generators with no moving metallic parts based on transverse explosive shock wave depolarization of Pb(Zr(0.52)Ti(0.48))O(3) (PZT 52∕48) poled ferroelectrics was explored and studied. It follows from experimental results that the output voltage produced by the shock-wave ferroelectric generators (FEGs) is directly proportional to the number of PZT 52/48 elements connected in series. It was demonstrated that miniature FEGs (volume less than 180 cm(3)) were capable of reliably producing output voltage pulses with amplitudes exceeding 120 kV which is the record reported in open literature.

Note: Autonomous pulsed power generator based on transverse shock wave depolarization of ferroelectric ceramics.

Autonomous pulsed generators utilizing transverse shock wave depolarization (shock front propagates across the polarization vector P(0)) of Pb(Zr(0.52)Ti(0.48))O(3) poled piezoelectric ceramics were designed, constructed, and experimentally tested. It was demonstrated that generators having total volume of 50 cm(3) were capable of producing the output voltage pulses with amplitude up to 43 kV with pulse duration 4 µs. A comparison of high-voltage operation of transverse and longitudinal shock wave ferroelectric generators is given.