Effects of temperature on aging degradation of soft and hard lead zirconate titanate ceramics

This paper aims to study the effects of heat treatment temperatures on the aging degradation of piezoelectric properties, i.e. piezoelectric coefficient (d33) and planar electromechanical coupling factor (kp), in soft and hard PZT ceramics. Aging degradations of d33 and kp of the samples were measured for 192 h prior to heat treatments. The samples were then treated at various temperatures equivalent to 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7 and 0.8 times of the materials' Curie temperatures. Aging degradations of d33 and kp of the heat-treated samples were observed continuously for 1128 h. The piezoelectric properties of the un-treated samples gradually decreased with aging time. Attenuation of d33 and kp in the samples immediately after heat treatment increased with increasing heat treatment temperature. Moreover, aging degradation rate and relaxation time of the samples measured after heat treatments increased with increasing heat treatment temperature. Comparing to hard PZT ceramics, soft PZT demonstrated greater change of d33 and kp immediately after heat treatments. Soft PZT also showed greater aging rate and aging time than those of hard PZT. From the overall results, it can be concluded that both material type and heat treatment temperature have effects on aging behaviors of PZT materials. Aging degradation was more pronounced in soft PZT and the samples treated at high temperatures. The observed aging behaviors of PZT materials were explained by the interaction between domains and defects of oxygen vacancies that leads to volume, domain and grain boundary effects

Investigation of the effect of temperature on aging behavior of Fe-doped lead zirconate titanate

The aging degradation behavior of Fe-doped Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) subjected to different heat-treated temperatures was investigated over 1000 h. The aging degradation in the piezoelectric properties of PZT was indicated by the decrease in piezoelectric charge coefficient, electric field-induced strain and remanent polarization. It was found that the aging degradation became more pronounced at temperature above 50% of the PZT’s Curie temperature. A mathematical model based on the linear logarithmic stretched exponential function was applied to explain the aging behavior. A qualitative aging model based on polar macrodomain switchability was proposed

CNTs-added PMNT/PDMS flexible piezoelectric nanocomposite for energy harvesting application

The flexible piezoelectric nanocomposites based on lead magnesium niobate titanate [Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.65Ti0.35O3; PMNT] particles in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix were fabricated and characterized. PMNT powders are synthesized using the columbite precursor method. PMNT/PDMS flexible nanocomposites are then prepared by spin casting technique, where a small amount of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is added into the PMNT/PDMS composite to enhance cross-links between PMNT particles and PDMS matrix. The phase and microstructure of the nanocomposite are investigated by using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The electromechanical behavior is evaluated by using an autonomous pneumatic actuator. The flexible composite, occupying approximately 300 mm2, is capable of generating an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 2.83 ± 0.24 V and a short-circuit current (Isc) signal of 0.33 ± 0.01 µA across 10 Ω resistor under mechanical load of 300 N. The generated electrical charges are 29026 pC. The relative dielectric constant is measured at 10 kHz and found to be 6.76 ± 1.15. The piezoelectric PMNT/PDMS composite can potentially be used in a variety of applications such as wearable sensors, actuators, and energy harvesting for converting kinetic energy into useful electrical energy

Polymer based microneedle patch fabricated using microinjection moulding

This paper presents the development of a polymer based microneedle patch for transdermal drug delivery application using plastic microinjection moulding. Design and analysis of the microneedle cavities and mould insert used in the injection moulding process were carried out using Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) software. A mould insert with low surface roughness was fabricated using Micro Electrical Discharge Machining (μ-EDM). The injection moulding parameters including clamping force, temperature, injection pressure and velocity were characterized in order to obtain the optimum reproducibility. Solid truncated cone microneedles, made of biocompatible polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), with a round tip radius of 50 μm and 500 μm in height have been realized by microinjection moulding process demonstrating the potential of a low cost, high production efficiency, and suitable for mass production. In addition, a mould insert of cylindrical microneedles fabricated using X-ray LIGA has been proposed

Epitaxial Piezoelectric Pb( Zr

We report on the properties of ferroelectric Pb(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3 (PZT) thin films grown epitaxially on (001) silicon and on the performance of such heterostructures for microfabricated piezoelectric energy harvesters. In the first part of the paper, we investigate the epitaxial stacks through transmission electron microscopy and piezoelectric force microscopy studies to characterize in detail their crystalline structure. In the second part of the paper, we present the electrical characteristics of piezoelectric cantilevers based on these epitaxial PZT films. The performance of such cantilevers as vibration energy transducers is compared with other piezoelectric harvesters and indicates the potential of the epitaxial approach in the field of energy harvesting devices

Energy harvesting from a rotating gear using an impact type piezoelectric MEMS scavenger

This paper reports on energy harvesting from an impact by using a piezoelectric MEMS scavenger. Useful electrical power is generated by the impact of the rotating gear on the MEMS piezoelectric transducer. The design of the device structure was based on both analytical and FEM models for the estimation of induced voltage generated from piezoelectric transducer. A prototyping of piezoelectric MEMS based impact harvester consisting of a piezoelectric unimorph transducer was operated on a gearbox with a speed of 25 rpm. For the cantilever type harvester occupying approximately 4.2 mm3, an average output power of 1.26 μW was measured across a resistive load of 2.7 MΩ

On the optimization and performances of a compact piezoelectric impact MEMS energy harvester

This paper presents the development of a compact energy harvesting configuration to convert low frequency, mechanical oscillations into usable electrical energy using AFM-like MEMS piezoelectric cantilevers coupled to a rotating gear. In this approach, one or several piezoelectric harvesters can be positioned above a rotating gear driven by an oscillating mass. In order to analyze the motion and the electrical power output from the harvester, analytical and finite element models have been developed. The harvester, with an active device volume of 3.5 mm3 (3×5×0.23 mm3), is able to produce an average output power of 12 μW measured across an optimal resistive load of 4.7 kΩ at a rotational speed of 19 rps, demonstrating the potential of the compact MEMS piezoelectric micro-power generator