Interactions between lead-zirconate titanate, polyacrylic acid, and polyvinyl butyral in ethanol and their influence on electrophoretic deposition behavior.

Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is an attractive method for the fabrication of a few tens of micrometer-thick piezoelectric layers on complex-shape substrates that are used for manufacturing high-frequency transducers. Niobium-doped lead-zirconate titanate (PZT Nb) particles were stabilized in ethanol using poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). With Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), we found that the deprotonated carboxylic group from the PAA is coordinated with the metal in the perovskite PZT Nb structure, resulting in a stable ethanol-based suspension. The hydroxyl group from the polyvinyl butyral added into the suspension to prevent the formation of cracks in the as-deposited layer did not interact with the PAA-covered PZT Nb particles. PVB acts as a free polymer in ethanol-based suspensions. The electrophoretic deposition of micro- and nanometer-sized PZT Nb particles from ethanol-based suspensions onto electroded alumina substrates was attempted in order to obtain uniform, crack-free deposits. The interactions between the PZT Nb particles, the PAA, and the PVB in ethanol will be discussed and related to the properties of the suspensions, the deposition yield and the morphology of the as-deposited PZT Nb thick film.

High-performance PMN-PT thick films.

This article describes some of our work on 0.65Pb(Mg1/3Nb(2/3)O3-0.35PbTiO3 (0.65PMN-0.35PT) thick films printed on alumina substrates. These thick films, with the nominal composition 0.65Pb(Mg1/3Nb(2/3)O3-0.35PbTiO3, were produced by screen-printing and firing a paste prepared from an organic vehicle and pre-reacted fine particles of avery chemically homogeneous powder. To improve the adhesion of the 0.65PMN-0.35PT to the platinized alumina substrate,a Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O3 layer was deposited between the electrode and the substrate. The samples were then sintered at 950 °C for 2 h with various amounts of packing powder on the alumina (Al2O3) substrates. The sintering procedure was optimized to obtain dense 0.65PMN-0.35PT films. The films were then characterized using scanning electron microscopy as well as measurements of the dielectric and piezoelectric constants.The electrostrictive behavior of the 0.65PMN-0.35PT thick films was investigated using an atomic force microscope(AFM). Finally, substrate-free, large-displacement bending type actuators were prepared and characterized, and the normalized displacement (i.e., the displacement per unit length) of the actuators was determined to be 55 µm/cm at 3.6 kV/cm.

Compositional and structural study of a (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3 single crystal prepared by solid state crystal growth.

In this work we investigated the chemical composition and structure of (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3 (KNN) single crystals grown by the solid state crystal growth method. The optical, scanning, and transmission electron microscopies were employed for the analysis of the chemical homogeneity and domain structure of the KNN crystal. No compositional inhomogeneities within experimental error were encountered in the KNN single crystals. The domain structure of the KNN single crystal, with a monoclinic unit cell, is composed of large 90 degrees domains of up to 100 microm width, which further consist of smaller 180 degrees domains with widths from 50 to 300 nm.

Acoustic wave transmission through piezoelectric structured materials.

This paper deals with the transmission of acoustic waves through multilayered piezoelectric materials. It is modeled in an octet formalism via the hybrid matrix of the structure. The theoretical evolution with the angle and frequency of the transmission coefficients of ultrasonic plane waves propagating through a partially depoled PZT plate is compared to finite element calculations showing that both methods are in very good agreement. The model is then used to study a periodic stack of 0.65 PMN-0.35 PT/0.90 PMN-0.10 PT layers. The transmission spectra are interpreted in terms of a dispersive behavior of the critical angles of longitudinal and transverse waves, and band gap structures are analysed. Transmission measurements confirm the theoretical calculations and deliver an experimental validation of the model.

Characterization of lead zirconate titanate--lanthanum ruthenate thin film structures prepared by chemical solution deposition.

In this work, the results of compositional and microstructural analysis of lead zirconate titanate--lanthanum ruthenate thin film structures prepared by chemical solution deposition are discussed. The cross-section transmission electron microscope (TEM) micrographs of the La-Ru-O film deposited on a SiO2/Si substrate and annealed at 700 degrees C revealed RuO2 crystals embedded in a glassy silicate matrix. When the La-Ru-O film was deposited on a Pt/TiO2/SiO2/Si substrate, RuO2 and La4Ru6O19 crystallized after annealing at 700 degrees C. After firing at 550 degrees C randomly oriented lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thin films crystallized on the La-Ru-O/SiO2/Si substrate, while on La-Ru-O/Pt/TiO2/SiO2/Si substrates PZT thin films with (111) preferred orientation were obtained. No diffusion of the Ru atoms in the PZT film was found. Ferroelectric response of PZT thin films on these substrates is shown in comparison with the PZT film deposited directly on the Pt/TiO2/SiO2/Si substrate without a La-Ru-O layer.

High-frequency transducers based on integrated piezoelectric thick films for medical imaging.

A screen-printed PZT thick film with a final thickness of about 40 microm was deposited on a porous PZT substrate to obtain an integrated structure for ultrasonic transducer applications. This process makes it possible to decrease the number of steps in the fabrication of high-frequency, single-element transducers. The porous PZT substrates allow high acoustic impedance and attenuation to be obtained, satisfying transducer backing requirements for medical imaging. The piezoelectric thick films deliver high electromechanical performance, comparable to that of standard bulk ceramics (thickness coupling factor over 45%). Based on these structures, high-frequency transducers with a center frequency of about 25 MHz were produced and characterized. As a result, good sensitivity and axial resolution were obtained in comparison with similar transducers integrating a lead titanate (PT) disk as active material. The two transducers were integrated into a high-frequency imaging system, and comparative skin images are shown.

Electron microscopy studies of potassium sodium niobate ceramics.

Using electron microscopy, K0.5Na0.5NbO3 (KNN) ceramics sintered at 1030 degrees C for 8 h and 1100 degrees C for 2 and 24 h was studied. The scanning electron microscopy and X-ray spectrometry revealed that the materials consisted of a matrix phase in which the (Na+K)/Nb ratio corresponded closely to the nominal composition and a small amount of Nb-rich secondary phase. A bimodal microstructure of cube-shaped grains was revealed in the fracture and thermally-etched surfaces of the KNN. In the ceramics sintered at 1100 degrees C, the larger grains (up to 30 mum across), contained angular trapped pores. The transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that the crystal planes of the grains bordering the intragranular pore faces were of the {100} family with respect to the simple perovskite cell. Ferroelectric domains were observed in the grains of this material.