Research of Lead-free Na_(0.5)Bi_(0.5)TiO_(3)-BaTiO_(3)System Piezoelectric Ceramics

To reduce the coercive field of Na_(0.5)Bi_(0.5)TiO_(3),Ba TiO_(3)were added as dopant materials.Then the(1-x)Na_(0.5)Bi_(0.5)TiO_(3)-xBaTiO_(3)ceramic samples were produced in solid synthetic way.The optimum preparation condition and piezoelectric properties of the samples were investigated.The XRD results show that the fabric transites from rhombohedral to tetragonal gradually with the substitution of the Ba^(2+).The morphotropic phase boundaries(MPB)exists in the composition range of 0.06.

Synchronization and firing mode transition of two neurons in a bilateral auditory system driven by a high–low frequency signal

The FitzHugh–Nagumo neuron circuit integrates a piezoelectric ceramic to form a piezoelectric sensing neuron,which can capture external sound signals and simulate the auditory neuron system.Two piezoelectric sensing neurons are coupled by a parallel circuit consisting of a Josephson junction and a linear resistor,and a binaural auditory system is established.Considering the non-singleness of external sound sources,the high–low frequency signal is used as the input signal to study the firing mode transition and synchronization of this system.It is found that the angular frequency of the high–low frequency signal is a key factor in determining whether the dynamic behaviors of two coupled neurons are synchronous.When they are in synchronization at a specific angular frequency,the changes in physical parameters of the input signal and the coupling strength between them will not destroy their synchronization.In addition,the firing mode of two coupled auditory neurons in synchronization is affected by the characteristic parameters of the high–low frequency signal rather than the coupling strength.The asynchronous dynamic behavior and variations in firing modes will harm the auditory system.These findings could help determine the causes of hearing loss and devise functional assistive devices for patients.

Characterization and Microstructure of PLZT RAINBOW Ceramics

A new type of large-displacement actuating materials called RAINBOW (Reduced and Internally Biased Oxide Wafer) ceramics is fabricated by a chemical reduction of PLZT piezoelectric ceramics. It is found that PLZT is easily reduced and the thickness of reduced layer has a linear relationship with the reduction time. The optimal conditions for producing RAINBOW samples from PLZT are determined to be 950℃ for 1-1.5 hours. SEM micrograph shows that the RAINBOW ceramics are composed of reduced and unreduced layer obviously. And the reduced layer is transgranularly fractured while the unreduced ceramic is intergranularly fractured. Metallic lead and refractor oxides (PbO, ZrO_2, ZrTiO_4, etc.) are found in the reduced layer by XRD analyses, however, the crystal structure of PLZT is not found. The analysis of the reduction mechanism is in good accordance with experimental data.

TRANSIENT RESPONSE OF A PIEZOELECTRIC CERAMIC WITH TWO COPLANAR CRACKS UNDER ELECTROMECHANICAL IMPACT

The transient response of two coplanar cracks in a piezoelectric ceramic under antiplane mechanical and inplane electric impacting loads is investigated in the present paper. Laplace and Fourier transforms are used to reduce the mixed boundary value problems to Cauchy-type singular integral equations in Laplace transform domain, which are solved numerically. The dynamic stress and electric displacement factors are obtained as the functions of time and geometry parameters. The present study shows that the presence of the dynamic electric field will impede or enhance the propagation of the crack in piezoelectric ceramics at different stages of the dynamic electromechanical load. Moreover, the electromechanical response is greatly affected by the ratio of the space of the cracks and the crack length.

Influence of Sb_2O_3 doping on the properties of KBT-NBT-BT lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

0.144（K0.5Bi0.5）TiO3-0.85（Na0.5Bi0.5）TiO3-0.006BaTiO3（KBT-NBT-BT） lead-free piezoelectric ceramics were prepared using a conventional solid state method.The influence of Sb2O3 doping on the crystal phase,surface microstructure and properties of the KBT-NBT-BT lead-free piezoelectric ceramics were investigated using X-ray diffraction（XRD）,scanning electron microscope（SEM） and other analytical methods.The results show that all compositions are of pure perovskite structure solid states.Sb2O3 doping does not influence the microstructure of KBT-NBT-BT lead-free piezoelectric ceramics obviously in the Sb2O3 doping range of 0.1-0.5 wt.%.Sb2O3 functions as a donor when doped small amount,while functions as a acceptor when doped large amount.The piezoelectric strain constant（d33） increases first and then decreases;the dielectric constant（ε33^T/ε0） and the dielectric loss（tanδ） decrease continuously when the amount of Sb2O3 dopant increases.When the doping amount of Sb2O3 is 0.1 wt.%,the KBT-NBT-BT piezoelectric ceramics with good comprehensive properties are obtained,whose d33,ε33^T/ε0 and tanδ are 147 pC/N,1510 and 4.2%,respectively.

ANALYSIS OF DAMAGE NEAR A CONDUCTING CRACK IN A PIEZOELECTRIC CERAMIC

The finite element formulation for analyzing static damage near a conducting crack in a thin piezoelectric plate is established from the virtual work principle of piezoelectricity.The damage fields under various mechanical and electrical loads are calculated carefully by using an effective iterative procedure.The numerical results show that all the damage fields around a crack tip are fan-shaped and the electric field applied has great influence on the mechanical damage, which is related to the piezoelectric properties.

ANALYSIS OF ELECTRIC BOUNDARY CONDITION EFFECTS ON CRACK PROPAGATION IN PIEZOELECTRIC CERAMICS

There are three types of cracks: impermeable crack, permeable crack and conducting crack, with different electric boundary conditions on faces of cracks in piezoelectric ceramics, which poses difficulties in the analysis of piezoelectric fracture problems. In this paper, in contrast to our previous FEM formulation, the numerical analysis is based on the use of exact electric boundary conditions at the crack faces, thus the common assumption of electric impermeability in the FEM analysis is avoided. The crack behavior and elasto-electric fields near a crack tip in a PZT-5 piezoelectric ceramic under mechanical, electrical and coupled mechanical- electrical loads with different electric boundary conditions on crack faces are investigated. It is found that the dielectric medium between the crack faces will reduce the singularity of stress and electric displacement. Furthermore, when the permittivity of the dielectric medium in the crack gap is of the same order as that of the piezoelectric ceramic, the crack becomes a conducting crack, the applied electric field has no effect on the crack propagation.

Manufacture and Cytotoxicity of a Lead-free Piezoelectric Ceramic as a Bone Substitute—Consolidation of Porous Lithium Sodium Potassium Niobate by Cold Isostatic Pressing

Aim The piezoelectric properties and cytotoxicity of a porous lead-free piezoelectric ceramic for use as a direct bone substitute were investigated. Methodology Cold isostatic pressing （CIP） was applied to fabricate porous lithium sodium potassium niobate （Li0.06Na0.5K0.44） NbO3 specimens using a pore-forming method. The morphologies of the CIP-processed specimens were characterized and compared to those of specimens made by from conventional pressing procedures. The effects of the ceramic on the attachment and proliferation of osteoblasts isolated from the cranium of 1-day-old Sprague- Dawley rats were examined by a scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and metbylthiazol tetrazolium （MTT） assay. Results The results showed that CIP enhanced piezoelectricity and biological performance of the niobate specimen, and also promoted an extracellular matrix-like topography of it. In vitro studies showed that the CIP-enhanced material had positive effects on the attachment and proliferation of osteoblasts. Conclusion Niobate ceramic generated by CIP shows a promise for being a piezoelectric composite bone substitute.

Effects of CeO_2 doping on the structure and properties of PSN-PZN-PMS-PZT piezoelectric ceramics

Quinary system piezoelectric ceramics PSN-PZN-PMS-PZT were prepared by using a two-step method. The effects of CeO2 doping on piezoelectric and dielectric properties of the system were investigated at morphotropic phase boundary （MPB）. The results reveal that the relative dielectric constant ε33^T｜ε0, the Curie temperature To, the piezoelectric constant d33, the mechanical quality factor Qm, and the electromechanical coupling coefficient Kp are changed with the increase of CeO2 content. On the other hand, the effects of CeO2 doping on the dielectric properties of PSN-PZN-PMS-PZT piezoelectric ceramics at high electric field are consistent with the change at weak electric field. The values of dielectric constant and dielectric loss are enhanced with the increasing of electric field.

COMBINED DAMAGE FRACTURE CRITERIA FOR PIEZOELECTRIC CERAMICS

Mechanical and electrical damages are introduced to study the fracture mechanics of piezoelectric ceramics in this paper. Two kinds of piezoelectric fracture criteria are established using the method of least squares combined with a damage analysis of the well-known piezoelectric fracture experiments of Park and Sun’s. One is based on a linear combination of the mechanical and electrical damages and the other on their nonlinear combination. When the combined damage D is up to its critical value Dc, piezoelectric fracture occurs. It is found from the qualitative comparison of the numerical results with the experimental data that the nonlinearly combined damage fracture criterion can give a better prediction of piezoelectric fracture. And it is concluded from the nonlinearly combined damage fracture criterion that a negative electric feld impedes fracture whereas the efect of a positive electric feld on fracture depends on its magnitude.

Effect of Li content on the microstructure and properties of lead-free piezoelectric(K_(0.5)Na_(0.5))_(1-x)Li_xNbO_3 ceramics prepared by SPS

Lead-free piezoelectric （K0.5sNa0.5）1-xLixNbO3 （x = 0at%-20at%） ceramics were synthesized by spark plasma sintering （SPS） at low temperature and the effects of LiNbO3 addition on its crystal structure and properties were also studied. When the Li content was less than 6at%, a single proveskite phase with the similar structure of （K0.5Na0.5）NbO3 was formed; and a secondary phase with K3Li2Nb5O15 structure was observed in the 6at% 〈 x 〈 20at% compositional range. Furthermore, LiNbO3 existed as the third phase when the Li content was higher than 8at%. The grain sizes increased from 200-500 nm to 5-8 μm when the K3Li2Nb5O15 and LiNbO3 like phases were formed. With increasing Li content, the relative density of the ceramics first decreased from 97% to 93% and then kept constant. The piezoelectric coefficient d33, dielectric constant, and planner electromechanical coupling factor exhibited a decreasing tendency with increasing Li content because of the decrease in density and the formation of the secondary phase such as K3Li2Nb5O15 and LiNbO3. The formation of dense microstructure with a single phase is necessary in improving the properties of the （K0.5Na0.5）1-xLixNbO3 ceramics.

Microstructure and electrical properties of Ti-modified (Na_(0.5)K_(0.5))(Ti_xNb_(1-x))O_3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

Ti-Modified (Na0.5K0.5)(TixNb1-x)O3 (NKNT) piezoelectric ceramics were fabricated by double-layer buried powder process at 1020°C for 2 h. The microstructures,and piezoelectric and dielectric properties of the lead-free NKNT ceramics were investigated. X-ray diffraction re-sults indicated that Ti4+ had diffused into the (Na0.5K0.5)NbO3 lattices to form a solid solution with a perovskite structure. The introducing of Ti into the (Na0.5K0.5)NbO3 solid solution effectively reduced the sintering temperature and densified the microstructure with a decreased grain size. The highest relative density reached more than 90%. The highest piezoelectric dielectric coefficient d33 and planar mode electro-mechanical coupling coefficient kp were 110 pC/N and 19.5%,which were obtained in the NKNT ceramic with 1 mol% Ti. The piezoelectric properties of the NKNT ceramics were enhanced by aging in air for a period of time owing to the compensation of oxygen vacancies.

Intermediate Temperature Sintering of La-Modified Ph(Zn_(1/3)Nb_(2/3))O_3-PbZrO_3-PbTiO_3 Piezoelectric Ceramics

In order to realize the co--firing with Ag/Pd electrodes in multilayer devices, Ph(Zn1/3 Nb2/3) 1-x-y ZrxTiyO3(0.25<x<0.35. 0.25<y<0.35) piezoelectric ceramics (hereafter designated PZN-PZT) modified by La2O3 has been prepared by conventional technique with sintering temperature from 1100’C to 1140’C. X-ray diffraction patterns demonstrated that pure perovskite phase was obtained. Secondary electron image (SEI) showed that crystalline grains in ceramics were well grown. d33 of manufactured sample was as high as 560 .10-12C/N. kp was about 0.61 and tg about 30 .10--3. The existence of liquid phase examined by electron diffraction in PZN-PZT sample is beneficial to sintering of the ceramic.

Microstructure,crystalline phase and electrical properties of Li_(0.06)(Na_(0.5)K_(0.5))_(0.94)Nb_(1-2x/5)Mg_xO_3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

MgO-modified Li0.06（Na0.5K0.5）0.94NbO3O3 （L6NKN） lead-free piezoelectric ceramics were synthesized by normal sintering at a rela- tively low temperature of 1000℃. The crystalline phase, microstructure, and electrical properties of the ceramics were investigated with a special emphasis on the influence of MgO content. The addition of MgO effectively improves the sintembility of the L6NKN ceramics. X-my diffr cfion analysis indicates that the morphotropic phase boundary （MPB） separating orthorhombic and tetragonal phases for the ceramics lies in the range of Mg doping content （x） from 0.3at% to 0.7at%. High electrical properties of the piezoelectric constant （d33=238 pC/N）, planar electromechanical coupling coefficient （kp=41.5%）, relative dielectric constant （εr=905）, and remanent polarization （Pr=38.3 μC/cm2） are obtained from the specimen with x=0.5at%, which suggests that the Li0.06（Na0.5K0.5）0.94Nb（1-2x/5）MgxO3 （x=0.5at%） ceramic is a promising lead-free piezoelectric material.

Effect of KNbO_3 content on the crystal structure and electrical properties of(1-x)PbZr_(0.54)Ti_(0.46)O_3-xKNbO_3 piezoelectric ceramics

（1 - x）PbZr0.54Tio.4603-xKNbO3 （0 〈 x 〈 25mo1%） （abbreviated as PZT-xKN） piezoelectric ceramics were successfully fabricated by a traditional sintering technique at 1225℃ for 30 min. The influence of KNbO3 content on the crystal structure and electrical properties of the PZT-xKN piezoelectric ceramics was studied. Samples with 0 〈 x 0.20 show a pure peroskite structure, indicating that ul KNbOdiffused ito the crystal lattice of PZT to form a single solid solution in this compositional range. A second Pb3Nb4013 phase is observed in the PZT-0.25KN sample, showing that the maximum solid solubility of KNbO3 in PZT matrix ceramic is less than 25mo1%. Compared with pure PZT piezoelectric ceramics, samples containing KNbO3 have smaller crystal grains. PZT-0.15KN exhibits excellent piezoelectric properties with d33 ： 209 pC/N.

Preparation and Structure of Rainbow Piezoelectric Ceramics

Rainbow piezoelectric ceramics are a new type of stress-biased,oxide-reduced composite ferroelectric ceramics,which have a special dome structure.The have shown excellent properties such as ultra-high displacement under an applied electric field and enhanced load-bearing capability.In this article,their manufacture,structures and properties were discussed in detail by combining experiments and theory analysis.The resuts show that the optimal conditions for producing Rainbow samples from PLZT ceramics were determined to be 900℃ for 1 to 1.5 hours.A number of different phases have been found in the reduced layer of Rainbow ceramics by XRD analyses.The phases found include metallic lead and other oxide phases,such as PbO,ZrO 2 and TiO 2.The original PLZT phase was not observed.The reduced layer was transgranularly fractured while the unreduced ceramic was intergranularly fractured.Two kinds of fracture types can be seen at the interface,which denotes the different degrees of reduction.It is shown that the Pb grains (about 0.2μm) constitute a continuous phase in the reduced layer,which accounts for the good electrical conductivity.

Singular variation property of elastic constants of piezoelectric ceramics shunted to negative capacitance

Piezoelectric shunt damping has been widely used in vibration suppression, sound absorption, noise elimination, etc. In such applications, the variant elastic constants of piezoelectric materials are the essential parameters that determine the performances of the systems, when piezoelectric materials are shunted to normal electrical elements, i.e., resistance, inductance and capacitance, as well as their combinations. In recent years, many researches have demonstrated that the wideband sound absorption or vibration suppression can be realized with piezoelectric materials shunted to negative capacitance. However, most systems using the negative-capacitance shunt circuits show their instabilities in the optimal condition, which are essentially caused by the singular variation properties of elastic constants of piezoelectric materials when shunted to negative capacitance. This paper aims at investigating the effects of negative-capacitance shunt circuits on elastic constants of a piezoelectric ceramic plate through theoretical analyses and experiments, which gives an rational explanation for why negative capacitance shunt circuit is prone to make structure instable. First, the relationships between the elastic constants c11, c33, c55 of the piezoelectric ceramic and the shunt negative capacitance are derived with the piezoelectric constitutive law theoretically. Then, an experimental setup is established to verify the theoretical results through observing the change of elastic constant c55 of the shunted piezoelectric plate with the variation of negative capacitance. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical analyses, which reveals that the instability of the shunt damping system is essentially caused by the singular variation property of the elastic constants of piezoelectric material shunted to negative capacitance.

Effect of Lead Contents on the Properties of PMSZT Piezoelectric Ceramics

The effects of Pb content on crystallographic phase, microstructure, electric-properties of PMSZT piezoelectric ceramics were studied. The crystallographic phase and microstructure of the ceramics were examined by using X-ray diffraction （XRD） and scanning electron microscopy （SEM）. The experimental result shows that the samples consist of a mixture of tetragonal and rhombohedral phases in the range of lead contents x=0.95-1.06, grains grow up homogeneously and the minimum value of Curie temperature was obtained with x-=1.02. With Pb content x〈l.02 or x〉1.02, the Curie temperature moves towards a high temperature. A well-situated electric-properties of ET33/E0 （1660）, d33 （344pC/N）, Kp （0.684）, Qm （2350）,tan 3（0.0030） were obtained when lead content x=1.02.

CuO added Pb_(0.92)Sr_(0.06)Ba_(0.02)(Mg_(1/3)Nb_(2/3))_(0.25)(Ti_(0.53)Zr_(0.47))_(0.75)O_3 ceramics sintered with Ag electrodes at 900℃ for multilayer piezoelectric actuator

CuO added Pb0.92Sr0.06Ba0.02（Mg1/3Nb2/3）0.25（Ti0.53Zr0.47）0.75O3 ceramics were studied to prepare high-quality multilayer piezoelectric actuators with pure Ag electrodes at 900 ℃. CuO addition not only reduced the sintering temperature significantly from 1260 ℃ to 900 ℃ but also improved the ceramic density to 7.742 g/cm3. The 0.7 wt.% CuO added ceramic sintered at 900 ℃ shows the remnant polarization （Pr） of 40 μC/cm2, 0.28% strain at 40 kV/cm, and the piezoelectric coefficient （d33） of 630 pC/N. This ceramic shows a strong relaxor characteristic with a Curie temperature of 200 ℃. Furthermore, the 0.7 wt.% CuO added ceramic and pure Ag electrodes were co-fired at 900 ℃ to prepare a high-quality multilayer piezoelectric actuator with a d33 of over 450 pC/N per ceramic layer.