Characterization of Phase Evolution, Microstructure and Electrical Properties of Sol-Gel Auto-Combustion Derived BCZT Ceramics.

This work aims to study the effect of sintering temperature on properties of barium calcium zirconate titanate (BCZT) ceramics. The BCZT is a Pb-free material that shows excellent piezoelectric properties. In this study, BCZT ceramics were prepared from BCZT powders synthesized from barium nitrate, calcium nitrate, zirconium (IV) oxynitrate hydrate, titanium (IV) butoxide and citric acid precursors by the sol-gel auto-combustion method.

Bilayer piezoelectric/electrostrictive (P/E) dome unimorph.

We present a new type of actuator named bilayer piezoelectric/electrostrictive dome unimorph (BIPEDU), fabricated by attaching a piezoelectric-electrostrictive monolithic bilayer composites (PE-MBLC) to a metal plate. Various ratios of piezoelectric/electrostrictive (P/E) volume percent were used to form PE-MBLC. It was found that d(33)(eff) and K(eff) in PE-MBLC follow the series 2-2 composite mixing rule.

Piezoelectric-electrostrictive monolithic bi-layer composite flextensional actuator.

We propose a new type of flextensional actuator comprised of an electromechanically active element which is a piezoelectric-electrostrictive monolithic bi-layer composite (PE-MBLC) capped by truncated thin brass sheets. The PE-MBLC contains equal amounts of 0.65[Pb(Mg(1/3)Nb(2/3))O(3)]-0.