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The mechanisms contributing to the electromechanical response of piezoelectric ceramics in the shear mode have been investigated using high-energy synchrotron x-ray diffraction. Soft lead zirconate titanate ceramic specimens were subjected to an electric field in the range 0.2–3.0 MV m−1, perpendicular to that of the initial poling direction, while XRD patterns were recorded in transmission. At low electric field levels, the axial strains remained close to zero, but a significant shear strain occurred due to the reversible shear-mode piezoelectric coefficient. Both the axial and shear strains increased substantially at higher field levels due to irreversible ferroelectric domain switching. Eventually, the shear strain decreased again as the average remanent polarization became oriented toward the electric field direction. The lattice strain and domain orientation distributions follow the form of the total strain tensor, enabling the domain switching processes to be monitored by the rotation of the principal strain axis. Reorientation of this axis toward the electric field direction occurred progressively above 0.6 MV m−1, while the angle of rotation increased from 0° to approximately 80° at the maximum field of 3.0 MV m−1. A strong correlation was established between the effective strains associated with different crystallographic directions, which was attributed to the effects of elastic coupling between grains in the polycrystal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead-free piezoelectric ceramics of (1 − x)K0.5Na0.5NbO3-xCaTiO3 were fabricated, and their crystal structure, microstructure, and electrical properties were systematically studied. Rietveld refinement of the x-ray diffraction data and Raman spectroscopic analyses revealed a composition-dependent structural phase transition: three phase transitions, namely, from a pure orthorhombic phase for x ≤ 0.02 to a mixed phase of orthorhombic and tetragonal phases (0.03 ≤ x ≤ 0.08) and finally another mixed phase of tetragonal + cubic for x = 0.10 and 0.15 at room temperature (RT). The morphological study reveals a decrease in grain size along with a more uniform distribution of grains as the concentration of CaTiO3 (CT) increases; notably, a homogeneous distribution of grains is observed for x = 0.05. The temperature-dependent dielectric properties show two phase transitions, from orthorhombic to tetragonal (TO-T) and tetragonal to cubic (TC), for unmodified K0.5Na0.5NbO3 (KNN). However, both the phase transition temperatures (TO-T and TC) decrease, and the transition peaks broaden with an increase in CT substitution, and for x > 0.06, the TO-T shifted below RT. The broadening of the transition peak at TO-T may be due to the relaxation behavior. Among the prepared samples, the 5 mol. % CT-modified KNN shows the optimum electrical properties (d33 = 114 pC/N, ɛr = 412, and 2Pr = 15.25 μC/cm2) at RT. The enhanced electrical properties for x = 0.05 are due to the coexistence of orthorhombic and tetragonal phases, facilitating easy polarization rotation and flattening of the free energy profile. A phase diagram has been constructed based on the information gathered from the temperature-dependent dielectric measurements, RT x-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy data and is discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demands of device applications in harsh environments have led to higher expectations for temperature and pressure resistance in high-temperature piezoelectric materials. In order to understand the performance characteristics of BiScO3-PbTiO3 (BS-PT) high-temperature piezoelectric materials in practical device applications, this study focuses on analyzing the dielectric, piezoelectric, and ferroelectric properties of BS-64PT ceramics under uniaxial stress up to 150 MPa, as well as its electromechanical performance under a hydrostatic pressure of up to 400 MPa. As the uniaxial pressure increases, both the bias-field and large-signal piezoelectric coefficients exhibit a pattern of initially increasing and subsequently decreasing. Furthermore, the bias-field piezoelectric coefficient exceeds 450 pC/N and the large-signal piezoelectric coefficient surpasses 630 pC/N under uniaxial pressures below 100 MPa. This highlights their exceptional resistance to depolarization caused by uniaxial stress. To obtain more precise piezoelectric properties for BS-64PT ceramics in the 31 and 33 modes under hydrostatic pressure, the admittance fitting method was utilized. This method takes into account the significant losses at higher pressures. Within the pressure range of 0–400 MPa, the values of d33 and d31 for BS-64PT ceramics exhibited a minor change of 7.6% and 8%, respectively. These findings indicate that BS-64PT ceramics exhibit more stable piezoelectric properties under both uniaxial and hydrostatic pressures when compared to the majority of Pb-based perovskite-structured materials. The exceptional stability of piezoelectric properties in BS-PT ceramics can be primarily attributed to their elevated anisotropy energy or coercivity field compared to other perovskite-structured Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 (PMN) / Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT)-based ceramics reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[001]-textured 0.4P(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.25PbZrO3-0.35PbTiO3-0.5%MnO2 (Mn-PMN-PZT) ceramics were fabricated by templated grain growth using 2 vol. % BaTiO3 in this paper. Full matrices of dielectric (ɛij), elastic (sij, cij), and piezoelectric (dij) parameters were obtained by the resonance–antiresonance method. The dielectric constant ɛ33T of textured ceramics reaches 2600, which is four times that of random ceramics. Textured Mn-PMN-PZT ceramics exhibit high d33 = 984 pC/N and high k33 = 0.89, which is much larger than d33 = 223 pC/N and k33 = 0.70 of random ceramics. However, ɛ11T of ceramics decreases by about 30% after texturing, and the corresponding shear coupling coefficient k15 also decreases from 0.66 to 0.44, which may be due to the reduction in the angle between spontaneous polarization and transverse direction. Furthermore, the temperature stability of the textured ceramics was evaluated as well. The phase transition temperature TR−T was determined by the impedance method to be 120 °C. The textured Mn-PMN-PZT ceramic shows high temperature stability, which is better than PMN-PT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The functional properties of piezoelectric ceramic materials, such as barium titanate, are highly dependent on grain size. Lead-free polycrystalline Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.1Ti0.9O3 (BCZT) samples were prepared with a combination of the hydrothermal method and spark plasma sintering to achieve grain sizes from 100 nm to 10 μm by varying the maximum sintering temperature. In this range, a transition from a nearly linear dielectric to a ferroelectric response can be seen in macroscopic electromechanical measurements, demonstrating the importance of grain size on functional properties in BCZT. Furthermore, in situ electric field-dependent synchrotron x-ray diffraction measurements were performed to quantify the intrinsic and extrinsic strain contributions and their variations with grain size. At lower grain sizes, the data revealed a significant loss of extrinsic contributions in the piezoelectric behavior, limiting the response to intrinsic contribution associated with lattice strain. For BCZT, a critical grain size between approximately 0.08 and 0.18 μm is proposed, below which no piezoelectric response was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(Bi0.5Na0.5)1−xBaxTiO3 lead-free ferroelectric ceramics were synthesized via the conventional solid-state reaction method. Structural and dielectric properties were investigated as a function of the doping concentration, considering x = 0, 2, 5, 8, 10, 12, 16, and 18 at. % Ba. The structural analyses were carried out from the x-ray diffraction technique, including the Rietveld refinement method, and Raman spectroscopy. Results confirmed the formation of the perovskite structure, revealing different crystalline symmetries, depending on the Ba2+ concentration: the single rhombohedral ferroelectric phase (R3c) for x = 0 and 2 at. %; coexistence of both rhombohedral ferroelectric (R3c) and tetragonal antiferroelectric (P4bm) phases for x = 5 at. % Ba; the single tetragonal antiferroelectric phase (P4bm) for x = 8 at. % Ba; coexistence of two tetragonal phases (antiferroelectric P4bm and ferroelectric P4mm) for x = 10 at. % Ba; and the single tetragonal ferroelectric phase (P4mm) for x = 12, 16, and 18 at. % Ba. The characteristics of the phases' transition, investigated from dielectric analysis, revealed the presence of two dielectric anomalies, which indeed have been associated to different phases' transitions, one of them showing relaxor-like characteristics. The obtained results offer new insights for a better understanding on the features of the phase diagram for the studied ceramic system, according to the different observed crystalline symmetries (ferroelectric and antiferroelectric) in a very wide doping concentration. In the light of the obtained results, a new phase diagram has been proposed considering a wider compositional range than those reported in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BiFeO3–BaTiO3 (BF–BT) ceramics with high Curie temperature and excellent piezoelectric coefficient are expected to be applied in high-temperature piezoelectric sensors and actuators. However, its resistivity decreases rapidly with temperature and impedes its further applications. Moreover, normal methods such as doping modification cannot address this issue. In the present work, bismuth layered Bi4Ti2.93(Zn1/3Nb2/3)0.07O12 (BIT) and perovskite 0.36BiScO3-0.64PbTiO3 (BSPT) ceramics were selected as insulating layers and were, respectively, sintered with 0.7BF–0.3BT ceramics to form laminated ceramics. The heterojunction structures effectively prevent carrier migration, and both resistivities of BIT and BSPT laminated ceramics were increased from 106 to 108−9 Ω cm at 300 °C. In addition, piezoelectric properties of the BSPT-type laminated ceramics are much higher than that of BF–BT ceramics, in which the bipolar strain was increased from 0.04% to 0.1% (4 kV/mm), and d33 was increased from 140 to 237 pC/N. Therefore, designing the insulating layer may be an effective method to realize the high-temperature application for BF–BT ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a piezoelectric energy harvester that concentrates force on the piezoelectric element by parallel springs. When vibrating, the force exerted by the mass is released at three equal points on the surface of the brass substrate through three parallel springs. This concentrated release of energy through the spring amplification effect facilitates large deformation of the piezoelectric ceramic sheet, resulting in a higher charge output. The results show that under the combined action of a 14 g annular hollow mass and a 0.3 mm wire diameter stainless steel spring, the energy harvester based on the lead zirconate titanate ceramic exhibited an outstanding output power of 1.0–32.1 mW at a low resonance frequency with acceleration amplitudes of 0.5–3 g (1 g = 9.8 m/s2). More importantly, to match the vibration frequency of the actual environment, this paper optimized the structure of the harvester and proposed that the harvester can be designed by selecting the weight of the mass block, the parameters and number of springs, and the shape of the brass substrate. The energy harvester designed in this study is expected to capture energy from low-frequency natural environments and exhibit outstanding output performance, which can provide guidelines for future efforts in this direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezoceramics with the formula Pb0.93Sr0.06Ba0.01(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.035(Ni1/3Nb2/3)0.2 (Sb1/2Nb1/2)0.015(ZrxTi1−x)0.75O3 + 0.5 wt. % Li2CO3, where x = 0.51, 0.50, 0.49, 0.48, 0.47, and 0.46, have been made using the one-step solid-state method. The phase structure and electrical properties were systematically investigated in the quinary system. Here, the crystalline structure transformed gradually from the rhombohedral to tetragonal phase with decreasing Zr content. More importantly, the effective piezoelectric coefficient d33* of the ceramics demonstrates an excellent thermal stability below the Curie temperature. Meanwhile, piezoelectric ceramics with x = 0.49 exhibited the extraordinary electrical properties near the morphotropic phase boundary. A huge piezoelectric coefficient d33 = 853 pC/N, high Curie temperature TC = 152 °C, and the electromechanical coupling coefficients kp = 67.4%, kt = 63.5%, and k33 = 67.4% were obtained at the composition of x = 0.49, which may lead a promising future for the transducer applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial neural circuits can effectively reproduce the main biophysical properties of neurons when reliable electronic components with unique physical properties are introduced. Connecting memristor to neural circuits not only enhances the potential controllability under external physical stimuli but also recognizes the effects of electromagnetic induction on neural activity. In this paper, the piezoelectric ceramic and memristor are embedded in FitzHugh-Nagumo (FHN) neural circuit, then two kinds of functional neuron models with magnetic field-control and electric field-control are obtained, respectively, to estimate the effects of external sound waves and external electric fields. To investigate the energy consumption when information transfer between neurons, the Hamilton energy functions of the above neuron models are obtained by calculating the field energy of each electronic component, and their correctness is verified by Helmholtz's theorem. In addition, two neurons can be coupled by an induction coil to equal the processing of chemical coupling and realize pumping energy between neurons. Moreover, an energy switch is added to the coupling channel to open or close the coupling channel by detecting the diversity of energy. That is, it is kept open when the coupled system is exchanging field energy until the energy diversity between neurons is controlled at a limited threshold. The two-parameter bifurcation results show that the above two neurons have different bifurcation modes under different external magnetic or electric fields. For coupled systems, it is found that two identical neurons can achieve complete synchronization (energy balance) or intermittent complete synchronization (intermittent energy balance) by adaptive coupling. However, two diverse neurons can only achieve phase lock or phase synchronization, since the diversity of the coupled system parameters can disrupt the achievement of complete synchronization. These results are helpful for designing intelligent neural networks by taming the coupling channels with gradient energy distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing the electrical resonance method, matrices encompassing elastic, piezoelectric, and dielectric properties were calculated for 0.36BiScO 3 -0.64PbTiO 3 (BSPT) ceramics. The design parameters for the BSPT/epoxy 2-2 composite material were meticulously elucidated through simulations conducted via COMSOL software. Characterization outcomes unveil that the synthesized composite material exhibits diminished acoustic impedance and heightened electromechanical coupling in comparison to its piezoelectric ceramic counterparts. Subsequent to the design and fabrication of ultrasonic transducers employing both BSPT ceramics and BSPT/epoxy 2-2 composite material, a thorough investigation into their electrical and acoustic attributes ensued at ambient temperature and 200 °C. Test results manifest that the BSPT/epoxy 2-2 composite high temperature ultrasonic transducer (CHTUT) demonstrates a center frequency and bandwidth of 4.52 MHz and 54.71%, respectively, at room temperature. While, at 200 °C, these parameters are 3.54 MHz and 80.79%. The HTUT, under parallel scrutiny, exhibits a center frequency and bandwidth of 4.65 MHz and 34.23% at room temperature, respectively, and 4.52 MHz and 29.65% at 200 °C. These findings prove the robust ultrasonic performance of the CHTUT, even under elevated temperatures, with the BSPT ceramic based counterpart demonstrating superior temperature stability. Furthermore, the results of an imaging experiment involving steel step blocks at both room temperature and 200 °C align consistently with the acoustic test outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D printing stereolithography (SL) technique were successfully applied in the preparation of <001>-textured 0.71Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3)O 3 -0.29PbTiO 3 (PMN-29PT) ceramics in this work. The as-sintered textured ceramics show obvious grain orientation control effects, and the relative density reaches 93% of the theoretical density. The obtained ceramics demonstrate typical dielectric/ferroelectric/piezoelectric properties, enabling the device applications. The ultrasonic transducer with the center frequency of 6.7 MHz and the −6 dB bandwidth of 25% are designed and prepared based on the obtained textured ceramic. This work signifies the great potential of 3D printing SL technology on the fabrication of piezoelectric ceramic elements for advanced applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, new series of high temperature piezoelectric ceramics consisting of (0.975- x)BiScO 3 - x PbTiO 3 -0.025 Pb(Sn 1/3 Nb 2/3)O 3 (BS- x PT-0.025PSN), have been fabricated and investigated in detail. The phase structure analysis and electrical properties characterization at room temperature demonstrate the MPB composition is BS-0.62PT-0.025PSN with the optimum piezoelectric performance (d 33 523 pC/N, large-signal d 33 * 734 p.m./V, and k p 54.6%), which are superior than the unmodified BS-PT ceramics. Interestingly, the in situ electromechanical coupling properties exhibits good stability with the variation lower 5% as the temperature increasing from room temperature to 300 °C and the d 33 * reaches the maxima of 1413 p.m./V at 200 °C, and remains 743 p.m./V even at 300 °C, showing the BS-0.62PT-0.025PSN ceramics potential for high temperature piezoelectric actuator application together with the Curie temperature of 418 °C and the high temperature annealing stabilities. Then a 10-layer stack-type piezoelectric actuator was designed and fabricated based on the BS-0.62PT-0.025PSN ceramics, which can be operated steadily up to 200 °C and produces a displacement of 24 μm under the driven electric field. The maximum displacement 32.4 μm of the actuator was obtained at the testing temperature of 150 °C, far more than that of the value at the room temperature. The BS-0.62 PT-PSN ceramics and their stack-type piezoelectric actuator maybe a strong supplement to satisfy the urgent demand for high temperature piezoelectric actuator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To design novel materials suitable for high-temperature electromechanical applications, a bismuth-based ternary solid solution system, (1- x - y)BiScO 3 - y Pb(Sc 1/2 Nb 1/2)O 3 - x PbTiO 3 , with compositions situated around the morphotropic phase boundary, were designed and synthesized in the form of ceramic. The crystal structure, microstructure, dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties, and the local polar domain structure of the ceramics were investigated in detail. The examined ceramics exhibit large grain sizes ranging from 20 μm to 45 μm, along with noteworthy characteristics, including a relatively large strain of 0.21 %, a high large-signal piezoelectric coefficient (d 33 * = 368 pm/V), a low dielectric loss (tanδ = 1.7 %), and a high Curie temperature (T C ∼ 423 °C). These enhanced properties signify the suitability of the designed ternary ceramics for future high-temperature electromechanical applications. This work demonstrates an effective approach for designing ferro-/piezoelectric materials characterized by substantial strain and low dielectric loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Na 0.25 K 0.25 Bi 2.5 Nb 2 O 9 -based piezoelectric ceramics are potential candidates for high-temperature applications where improving piezoelectric properties is an urgent issue. In this work, significantly improved piezoelectric properties and thermal stability of Na 0.25 K 0.25 Bi 2.5- x Ce x Nb 2- y W y O 9 (abbreviated NKB 2.5- x C x N 2- y W y , x = 0.03, y = 0.01, y = 0.03, y = 0.05) ceramics were obtained through Ce and W co-doping and using a traditional solid-state technique. The optimal composition of NaKBi 2.47 Ce 0.03 Nb 1.99 W 0.01 O 9 exhibits a large piezoelectric coefficient d 33 of 23.1 pC/N, maintains a high Curie temperature T c of 690 °C, and a low tanδ of 0.006. The increase of d 33 may be attributed to the structure distortion, the micro-sized domains, and the high-density domain walls. More importantly, its d 33 value maintains 86 % of the initial value after being annealed at 650 °C for 2 h, whereas only 65 % for the undoped sample under the same conditions, indicating an obviously improved thermal stability. This work provides a new idea for improving piezoelectric properties and thermal stability of Na 0.25 K 0.25 Bi 2.5 Nb 2 O 9 -based piezoelectric ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D printing technique can be used to fabricating complex-structure ceramics, but the internal microstructure and properties along vertical and horizontal directions may show certain anisotropy due to the layer-by-layer process. This work aims to evaluate 3D printing anisotropy quantitatively for performance optimization via the stereolithography method. The square-shaped barium titanate (BTO) ceramics with three different solid contents (75 %, 80 % and 85 %) were prepared to characterize the differences between the vertical and horizontal directions of the ceramics, including microstructure, phase structure, electrical properties and mechanical properties. The electrical and mechanical performances of the printed BTO ceramics in vertical direction are superior to that of horizontal direction, and the differences firstly decrease with the solid contents increasing to 80 % and then increase slightly with further solid content increasing. Besides, the printed BTO ceramic with 80 wt% solid content has excellent electrical performance. This study may provide a potential way for achieving high performance and low anisotropy in the vertical and horizontal of printed ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CaBi 4 Ti 4 O 15 (CBT) ceramics are promising piezoelectric materials that have been widely studied for high-temperature applications. Despite significant advancements in the electrical performance of CBT ceramics, the understanding of their mechanical behaviors remains limited, which is unfavorable for designing ceramics with high stability and reliability during high-temperature service. This work investigated the mechanical properties and fracture behaviors of Nb/Mn co-doped CaBi 4 Ti 4 O 15 (CBTNM) with various doping levels, focusing on stress-strain responses and ferroelastic deformation behaviors under uniaxial compression and multi-field coupling conditions. HRTEM analysis reveals small-scale layered domain wall structures on the surface of plate-like grains. The fracture and compressive strengths of CBTNM ceramics initially decrease and then increase with an increase in doping content, and the underlying mechanisms are related to grain size, defects, and densification. CBTNM ceramics exhibit nonlinear stress-strain responses due to ferroelastic deformation under compressive loading, and the resultant irreversible domain switching strain increases with an increase in doping content, while poling can further increase the residual strain. Under multi-field loading conditions, CBTNM ceramics undergo more ferroelastic deformation events and exhibit larger residual strain. The micro-cracks, pores, complicated fracture modes, and degraded fracture surfaces with fragmental and rough features are mainly responsible for the lower elastic modulus and inferior mechanical response. This work enhances our understanding of the mechanical behaviors of high-temperature piezoelectric ceramics and provides guidance for designing high-performance piezoelectric materials for complex environmental applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bi 3- x Ce x TiNbO 9 (BTN-100 x Ce, x = 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07, 0.09, 0.11) piezoelectric ceramics with ultra-high Curie temperature were fabricated by a solid-state sintering method, and the effect of Ce doping on the structure, dielectric and piezoelectric properties of the ceramics was investigated. All ceramic samples possess a single Aurivillius phase and Ce ions enter both A- and B-sites. Dense microscopic morphology with a remarkable decrease of grain size can be observed due to Ce doping. The resistivity markedly increases after Ce modification, and a significantly enhanced piezoelectric constant d 33 of 17.1 pC/N can be achieved in the optimized BTN-7Ce ceramics, which is nearly 6 times that of pure Bi 3 TiNbO 9 (d 33 ≈ 3 pC/N). In addition to ultra-high Curie temperature (T C = 886.5 °C) and relatively high resistivity (ρ = 1.2 × 106 Ω cm @ 500 °C), the BTN-7Ce ceramics should be very promising for piezoelectric sensor under the application in high temperature conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enhanced high-power performance of 0.93 Pb(Zr 1-x Ti x)O 3 -0.05 Pb(Mn 1/3 Sb 2/3)O 3 -0.02 Pb(Sc 1/2 Nb 1/2)O 3 (x = 0.48, 0.50, 0.52, 0.54, 0.56) piezoelectric ceramics (PZT-PMS-PSN) has been achieved with notable improvement in the piezoelectric coefficient (d 33). The presence of the monoclinic phase (C c) has led to an increase in d 33 from 214 pC N−1 to 315 pC N−1. Therefore, the composition 0.93 Pb(Zr 0.48 Ti 0.52)O 3 -0.05 Pb(Mn 1/3 Sb 2/3)O 3 -0.02 Pb(Sc 1/2 Nb 1/2)O 3 exhibits excellent mechanical and electrical parameters: a d 33 value of 315 pC N−1, a high mechanical quality factor of 1578, an electromechanical coupling factor k p of 52 %, and a low dielectric loss tanδ of only 0.288 %. Additionally, this ceramic exhibits a significantly high Curie temperature (T c), reaching up to 328 °C which stabilizes its ferroelectric phase. Moreover, the phase transition of PZT-PMS-PSN ceramics from rhombohedral to tetragonal phase was investigated by X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, Piezo-response force microscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the phase structure, Curie temperature, dielectric properties, piezoelectricity, and energy-storage properties of BiFeO 3 (BFO)-modified (Ba 0.95 Ca 0.05) (Ti 0.89 Sn 0.11)O 3 (BCTSO) ceramics using both experimental and theoretical methods. The results indicated that the lattice distortion and chaotic distribution of the local charge increased with the BFO content, resulting in a phase transition and transformation from a ferroelectric to a relaxing ferroelectric. First-principles calculations revealed that the Curie temperature decreased with increasing BFO content, primarily because of an increase in the ground state energy. The variation in the permittivity of the BCTSO- x BFO ceramics with temperature and frequency is affected by the phase structure and Maxwell-Wagner interface polarisation, respectively. The electrical modulus measurements indicated that BCTSO- x BFO exhibited non-Debye-type dielectric relaxation for x = 0.0, 0.1, and 0.5 %, whereas BCTSO- x BFO showed Debye-type dielectric relaxation for x = 0.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezoceramics have long encountered difficulties in simultaneously attaining a high Curie temperature (T C) and extraordinary electrical characteristics due to the issue of thermal depolarization. To handle this, a novel 0.1 Pb(Yb 0.5 Nb 0.5)O 3 (PYN)–0.9 Pb(Hf 1−x Ti x)O 3 (PHT) + x mol%Ta 2 O 5 piezoelectric ceramic was prepared using solid-state sintering method. We developed a synergistic strategy in introducing local heterogeneity into the tetragonal phase, where doping with heterovalent Ta5+ ions significantly reduces the temperature dependence of PYN–PHT piezoelectric ceramics. The structure and electrical behavior of obtained ceramics were methodically investigated using various analytical approaches. Our innovative composition, PYN–PHT–0.6Ta, showcases tetragonal phases. It exhibits impressive results, such as a piezoelectric coefficient d 33 of 560 pC/N, an electromechanical coupling coefficient of 0.7 and a T C of 312.2 °C. Doping with Ta5+ ions unveils the formation of small size, mixed-state domain structure in enhancing piezoelectric and dielectric properties of ceramics. Additionally, the pinning effect of tetragonal phase contribute to the remarkable temperature stability (the variation in d 33 is only 6.03 % from 25 °C to 300 °C) of the material. Overall, the exceptional performance and high quality of PYN–PHT–xTa ceramics hold great promise for high-temperature application in future microdevices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to enhance the surface quality of digital light processing (DLP) printed lead zirconate titanate (PZT) components by controlling the content of BYK-111 dispersant, thereby improving the electrical properties of the resulting printed piezoelectric ceramics and devices. 55 vol% high solid loading PZT slurries with different dispersant contents were prepared and assessed for their dispersion stability, rheological behavior and curing characteristics. The slurry containing 1 wt% BYK-111 demonstrated ideal rheological properties, notably achieving a low viscosity of 1.37 Pa·s at 100 s−1. The surface roughness of the printed ceramic component was reduced to 69.3 nm, representing a 57.1 % improvement in surface quality compared to other dispersant levels. The printed PZT ceramic exhibited superior piezoelectric performance, with a piezoelectric constant d 33 reaching 445 pC/N, surpassing most existing 3D-printed macro-sized piezoelectric ceramics. Furthermore, a DLP-printed 1–3 piezoelectric array was encapsulated to fabricate an acoustic emission (AE) sensor, which achieved a low substrate noise level of 31 dB and a high signal-to-noise ratio of 62 dB, outperforming commercial sensors. The optimal BYK-111 content not only ensures favorable dispersion stability and rheological properties in the slurry, but also significantly enhances the surface quality and density of the printed ceramic components, ultimately leading to the production of high-performance piezoelectric ceramics and devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The applications of piezoelectric materials in the field of smart structures have received significant attention from both the communities of science and engineering. Numerous experimental studies have been carried out to endow smart structures with good flexibility. The flexible/stretchable piezoelectric materials are developed to fit this emerging trend. Generally, these materials undergo significant deformation before reaching fracture failure, and they often exhibit a stress-softening phenomenon during the deformation process. However, the traditional linear constitutive model, typically used for rigid piezoelectric ceramics, continues to dominate theoretical and modeling processes in many scenarios. Existing nonlinear constitutive models usually introduce additional coefficients besides elastic, piezoelectric, and dielectric coefficients. Determining these coefficients requires a substantial number of experiments. In this work, based on a Neo-Hookean material model and electromechanical theory, a novel model for flexible piezoelectric material considering large deformation has been established. In contrast with existing models, the present model describes the nonlinear behavior of flexible piezoelectric material without the need for introducing additional parameters. Furthermore, this model exhibits a quadratic dependence of stress on the electric field. To facilitate practical applications, the constitutive model has been implemented using the commercial simulation software ABAQUS through a user subroutine. The accuracy of the subroutine is validated by comparing simulations with analytical solutions for uniaxial stretching of a flexible piezoelectric ribbon. Several numerical examples are followed to demonstrate the robustness of the elements. The proposed model offers a valuable tool for the analysis and design of flexible piezoelectric material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) is a widely recognized piezoelectric ceramic exhibiting excellent dielectric and ferroelectric properties over a wide range of temperature and frequency, making it desirable for applications such as capacitors, piezoelectric transducers, and actuators. Being subjected to repeated electrical loading in various applications, a progressive decrease in the functionality can happen, leading to device failure over time. Therefore, understanding degradation phenomena in all aspects is of importance to expand the lifespan of electronic devices. Despite of many studies focusing on the macroscopic properties of ferroelectrics related to degradation, such as switchable polarization, little is known about the change on local ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties and the domain structure induced by degradation. This paper reports the effect of sub‐coercive electrical cycling on local static and dynamic piezoelectric properties for PZT ceramic using piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). The piezoelectric properties are probed along the three sample directions (x, y, z) to gain comprehensive insights into the local domain orientation throughout the bulk PZT sample which is then compared with microscopically measured piezoelectric coefficients. The PFM results are analyzed with respect to changes in domain orientation (depolarization) as well as to reduction on piezoelectric material response (degradation) to identify the origin of the degradation behavior. Our results directly show a strong depolarization effect in the direction of the applied electric field because of sub‐coercive cycling although it leads to small or even no degradation in directions perpendicular to the applied electric field. However, the latter is associated with a notable change in dynamic polarization switching properties which are strongly tied to the local domain structure. Our study shows that the origin of the degradation can be identified by analyzing the statistical change of local piezoelectric properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights In this study, epoxy based piezoelectric polymer composites were fabricated using two different curing agents and varying compositions of poly(vinylidene) fluoride (PVDF), barium titanate (BaTiO3), and conductive silver nanoparticles. The effect of piezoelectric ceramic and conductive nanofillers on enhancing the PVDF β phase within the composite structure was investigated. Structural, thermal, and morphological characterizations of the polymer composites were performed using x‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis of mechanical properties and fracture toughness was conducted in addition to the piezoelectric behavior. A voltage output of 1.35 V was generated by a polymer composite containing 20 wt% BaTiO3, with a Young's modulus of 2 GPa and a fracture energy of 2.3 kJ/m2. The findings of this study contribute to expanding the knowledge and understanding of piezoelectric polymer composites, enabling their potential utilization in various scientific and technological applications. Enhancing mechanical and piezoelectric properties of epoxy based piezoelectric composites. A clear and comprehensive description of the experimental procedures employed. Comparative analysis methods: structural, thermal, mechanical, fracture, and piezoelectric property analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezocatalysis is capable of harnessing mechanical energy for environmental remediation, which is regarded as a green and promising technology to be exploited. Piezoceramics are struggling to be used as highly efficient piezocatalysts due to their grain size reaching tens of micrometers usually. Herein, a feasible and straightforward method is proposed to turn piezoceramic powders into highly efficient piezocatalysts by integrating size optimization and oxygen vacancy modulation. This strategy is validated by treating lead‐free Sr0.5Ba0.5Nb2O6 (SBN) piezoceramic powders with high‐energy ball‐milling (hBM). The rate constant k value of 46.95 × 10−3 min−1 for rhodamine B (RhB) piezocatalytic degradation of SBN‐hBM‐12h is almost 18 times higher than that of pristine SBN. Besides, the SBN‐hBM‐12 h catalyst performed superior antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli. The enhanced piezocatalytic efficiency is attributed to the introduced abundant oxygen vacancies absorbing and activating O2 into reactive oxygen species. Well‐modulated oxygen vacancy concentration can effectively accelerate the generation and separation of free carriers. However, the excess oxygen vacancies in SBN render the weakened piezoresponse thus suppressing the piezocatalytic activity. This study elucidates the critical role of oxygen vacancies in piezocatalysis and provides insights into the development of efficient piezocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead-free piezoelectric ceramics can generate electrical signals to promote bone defect repair, but they suffer from low bioreactivity. In this study, K 0.48 Na 0.52 NbO 3 & akermanite composite ceramic (KNN & AK) was prepared using digital light processing (DLP). The influence of sintering temperature and AK content was investigated. With the increase of sintering temperature, the piezoelectric coefficient d 33 of the composite ceramics first increased and then decreased, reaching a maximum of 7.80 pC/N at 1070 °C. The doping of AK would lead to a significant decrease in the piezoelectric property, and the AK content should not exceed 10 wt% to achieve the piezoelectric coefficient of human bone. After immersion in Tris-HCl solution for 28 days, the weight loss rate of the composite ceramics doped with 15 wt% AK could reach 8.36 %. The combination of KNN and AK promotes the application of piezoelectric bone scaffolds in the field of bone repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bi 4 Ti 3- x (Mg 1/2 W 1/2) x O 12 (BTMW100 x) ceramics were synthesized using a direct reaction method combined with a two-step sintering technique. The study systematically investigated the effects of B-site equivalent substitution of (Mg 1/2 W 1/2)4+ on BTMW100 x ceramics. The experimental results indicate that an appropriate amount of (Mg 1/2 W 1/2)4+ doping effectively reduces grain thickness, enhances grain distribution uniformity, and decreases the concentration of oxygen vacancies. Consequently, these modifications lead to improved piezoelectric performance while maintaining a high Curie temperature. Notably, Bi 4 Ti 2.95 (Mg 1/2 W 1/2) 0.05 O 12 (BTMW5) ceramics exhibit excellent piezoelectric properties and thermal stability, with a piezoelectric coefficient of 23 pC/N and a Curie temperature of 683 °C. These findings suggest that BTMW5 ceramics are promising candidates for high-temperature piezoelectric applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a sandwich structure 1-3 piezoelectric composite, incorporating flexible silicone rubber to enhance the thickness vibration mode of piezoelectric ceramics. Rigid aluminum nitride (AlN) is employed to bolster the mechanical stability of the composite. Utilizing equivalent parameter theory, we establish a mathematical model for the sandwich structure composite material. The impact of the piezoelectric phase size and the volume fraction of AlN on several performance parameters of the material are analyzed, including the thickness electromechanical coupling coefficient, density, sound velocity, and characteristic impedance. The sandwich structure piezoelectric composite was fabricated using the "cutting and filling" technique. Experimental outcomes reveal that this material demonstrates concentrated thickness vibration modes, with a thickness electromechanical coupling coefficient reaching as high as 0.72, a 16.6 % increase compared to traditional 1-3 piezoelectric composites. Results from thermal shock tests and tensile tests suggest that the sandwich structure 1-3 piezoelectric composite has considerable potential for use in highly reliable low-frequency receiving transducers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shaping of ceramics is crucial. Current techniques cannot easily and rapidly shape ceramics without weakening their properties, especially for piezoceramics. We present an ultrafast ceramic shaping method that leverages thermomechanical fields to deform and sinter ceramic powder compacts into complex-shaped ceramics. The shape-forming process hinges on: (1) the implementation of a precise thermal field to activate optimal deformability, and (2) the application of sufficient mechanical loads to guide deformation. We employ a programmable carbon-felt Joule heater that concurrently function as mechanical carriers, effectively transferring applied loads to the ceramic powder compacts. Using this ultrafast shaping and sintering (USS) method, we fabricate barium titanate (BT) piezoceramics in twisted shape, arch shape and with micropatterns. The USS method is energy-friendly (requiring approximately 1.06 kJ mm−3) and time-efficient (in several minutes level). Overall, the USS method offers an effective solution for shaping ceramics and extends them to 3D geometries with enhanced versatility. Shaping ceramics is important for realizing their material properties. Here, the authors modify a Joule heating method to generate morphing thermomechanical fields, guiding the shape formation of ceramics into complex 3D configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of piezoelectric ceramics with silicon nanomembranes can provide a unique combination of electronic and mechanical functionality. For example, an integrated remotely accessible sensor/actuator can serve as a sound transducer to be placed on the tympanic membrane of the human ear. Such an implant would enable direct sound transmission in the kHz range via down‐conversion of a modulated carrier signal at radio frequency. The viability of this concept is demonstrated via a specific design of the nanomembrane bonded over a hole in the piezoelectric chip as well as driving this chip to create a strong nonlinear mechanical response in the nanomembrane. The response in the audible‐frequency range and the result is demonstrated by modulating the piezoelectric chip with a C‐major audible tune—the tone ladder—and retrieving this sound by an optical readout method. Finally, to prove the possibility of remote actuation of the nanomembrane, an antenna on the chip is integrated and the wide‐band transmission from a mobile source is simulated. It is concluded that a remotely actuated invisible hearing aid is possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, lead-free Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 (BNT) based piezoelectric ceramics with excellent strain properties have gained widespread recognition for their application in high-precision displacement actuators. The (1- x)(0.82Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 -0.18K 0.5 Bi 0.5 TiO 3)- x Ba(Fe 0.5 Sb 0.5)O 3 ceramics were fabricated through the die-pressing method in this work. The effect of BFS introduction on the dielectric, ferroelectric and microstructure characteristics of BNKT ceramics was systematically investigated. Among these compositions, the BNKT-0.015BFS ceramics exhibited a piezoelectric strain coefficient (d 33 *) of 658 pm/V at an electric field of 55 kV/cm, while achieving a strain response of 0.51 % at 85 kV/cm. The observed improvement in strain performance can be attributed to the evolution from non-ergodic relaxor state to ergodic relaxor state caused by BFS substitution. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) explicitly confirmed coexistence of rhombohedral and tetragonal phase and revealed the morphology of nanosized domains. This study adds to a deeper comprehension of the characteristics of strain response enhancement in BNT-based ceramics, opening up avenues for designing novel lead-free piezoelectric ceramics with outstanding electromechanical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research focuses on the electrical properties of lead-free piezoceramics (0.985- x)(K 0.485 Na 0.485 Li 0.03)(Nb 0.96 Sb 0.04)O 3 -0.015(Bi 0.5 Na 0.5)ZrO 3 - x SnO 2 (KNNLS-BNZ- x SnO 2 , x = 0.003, 0.006, 0.009, 0.012, and 0.015). This study examines the influence of varying SnO 2 doping levels on the microstructure and piezoelectric properties of the ceramics. All the ceramics prepared demonstrate pure perovskite structure without any secondary phases. The Rietveld refinement analysis of XRD data reveals the existence of multiphase evolution around room temperature. The tetragonality (c/a) and cell volume of the ceramics tend to rise with an increase in Sn4+ content, potentially leading to improved ferroelectric characteristics. The optimum values obtained were Curie temperature (T c) = 395 oC, remnant polarization (P r) = 21.07 μC/cm2, piezoelectric coefficient (d 33)=357 pC/N, piezoelectric voltage constant (g 33) = 24 × 10−3 Vm/N, and figure of merit (FOM off) = 10.34 pm2/N, corresponding to the ceramic doped with x = 0.012 SnO 2. The findings indicate that an optimal amount of Sn4+ in the host composition KNNLS-BNZ improves piezoelectric properties by constructing an R-O-T phase boundary near room temperature. This study suggests that the ceramic with x = 0.012 SnO 2 exhibits a favorably high T c coupled with an exceptional energy harvesting capability, making it a suitable candidate for energy harvesting applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper has reported a novel ternary system consisting of (1- x - y) BiScO 3 - x PbTiO 3 - y CaZrO 3 (y CZ-BS- x PT). The phase structure, microstructure and electrical parameters of the new piezoelectric material at room temperature were studied in detail. The results showed that d 33 increased significantly with the increase of CZ content. Combined with the results of phase structure, the MPB of 0.02CZ-BS- x PT is located at x = 0.615, which demonstrates optimum piezoelectric performance (d 33 = 470 pC/N， k p = 52.0 %, ε r = 1704). At the same time, the in-situ high-temperature electrical parameters were characterized systematically. It is worth noting that the in-situ electrical parameters are more attractive. When the temperature rises from room temperature to 300 °C, the k t and k p of 0.02CZ-BS-0.615 PT decreases by less than 7 % and the k p reaches the maximum of 60.7 % at 200 °C, and remains 49.8 % even at 300 °C. In addition, the in-situ d 33 test of 0.005CZ-BS-0.63 PT showed that the d 33 of the material increased from room temperature to 424 °C, reaching a maximum of 690 pC/N. From room temperature to 300 °C, the change rate is only 26 %, lower than that of the undoped BS-PT, which is 38.6 %. And the d 33 * reaches a maximum of 994 p.m./V at 200 °C. The improved in-situ piezoelectric properties of y CZ-BS- x PT ternary system makes it a great candidate for high temperature piezoelectric applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, an attempt is made for improving the piezoelectric properties of a lead-free (Na 0. 5 K 0. 4 8 5 Li 0. 0 1 5) (Nb 0. 9 8 V 0. 0 2) O3 ceramic system by doping manganese in it. The Rietveld analysis of XRD micrographs of the ceramics indicates the samples crystallizing into 99.86% of orthorhombic phase and very small traces of tetragonal phase around room temperature. The Curie temperature ( T c ) is hardly affected by the incorporation of Mn 4 + into the system. At the manganese concentration of 0.02 wt.%, the ceramic system attains the peak values in its density, dielectric constant at room temperature ( ε RT ), planar electromechanical coefficient ( k p) , piezoelectric coefficient ( d 3 3 ), and remnant polarization ( P r ). The optimum piezoelectric properties of k p = 4 3 % and d 3 3 = 1 9 3 pC/N are observed for this composition. The study reveals that the modification of (Na 0. 5 K 0. 4 8 5 Li 0. 0 1 5 ) (Nb 0. 9 8 V 0. 0 2) O3 with an appropriate quantity of Mn 4 + can produce the desired changes in the crystallographic properties and densification so as to eventually improve its piezoelectric properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital light processing (DLP) is a projection-based vat photopolymerization 3D printing technique that attracts increasing attention due to its high resolution and accuracy. The projection-based layer-by-layer deposition in DLP uses precise light control to cure photopolymer resin quickly, providing a smooth surface finish due to the uniform layer curing process. Additionally, the extensive material selection in DLP 3D printing, notably including existing photopolymerizable materials, presents a significant advantage compared with other 3D printing techniques with limited material choices. Studies in DLP can be categorized into two main domains: material-level and system-level innovation. Regarding material-level innovations, the development of photocurable resins with tailored rheological, photocuring, mechanical, and functional properties is crucial for expanding the application prospects of DLP technology. In this review, we comprehensively review the state-of-the-art advancements in DLP 3D printing, focusing on material innovations centered on functional materials, particularly various smart materials for 4D printing, in addition to piezoelectric ceramics and their composites with their applications in DLP. Additionally, we discuss the development of recyclable DLP resins to promote sustainable manufacturing practices. The state-of-the-art system-level innovations are also delineated, including recent progress in multi-materials DLP, grayscale DLP, AI-assisted DLP, and other related developments. We also highlight the current challenges and propose potential directions for future development. Exciting areas such as the creation of photocurable materials with stimuli-responsive functionality, ceramic DLP, recyclable DLP, and AI-enhanced DLP are still in their nascent stages. By exploring concepts like AI-assisted DLP recycling technology, the integration of these aspects can unlock significant opportunities for applications driven by DLP technology. Through this review, we aim to stimulate further interest and encourage active collaborations in advancing DLP resin materials and systems, fostering innovations in this dynamic field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposed a linear model between internal bond strength and compressive elastic modulus based on Griffith's fracture theory. The local compressive elastic modulus was determined by non-destructively detecting the inherent frequency of material vibration using a method based on rod longitudinal vibration theory. In the experiment, the inherent vibration frequencies of 10 types of medium-density fiberboard (MDF) were measured through excitation and vibration of piezoelectric ceramics based on longitudinal wave vibration theory. Then, the compressive elastic modulus of each board was calculated. The calculated compressive elastic modulus of MDF and the measured internal bond strength values were fitted into a linear regression model. A high linear correlation between them (r2 = 0.972) was found, having a mean square error of . In addition, the average error between the model prediction value and the measured value was 0.014 MPa, having an average relative error of 1.49%. The maximum error was 0.044 MPa with a maximum relative error of 5.06%, indicating that the developed model was highly consistent with reality and had very small deviations. The results indicated that this proposed method can be used to accurately estimate the internal bond strength by non-destructively detecting the compressive elastic modulus of MDF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lead-free piezoelectric ceramics (1- x)Bi 3 TiTaO 9 – x Na 0.5 Bi 2.5 Nb 2 O 9 [(1- x)BTT– x NBN; x = 0.0; 0.2; 0.5; 0.7; 1.0] were prepared using the traditional solid-state method, and the microstructure and electrical properties of the novel solid solution (1- x)BTT– x NBN were studied. XRD data and Raman spectroscopy analysis indicated that Na ions and Nb ions had been incorporated into the designed lattice, forming a stable solid solution. The piezoelectric performance of the (1- x)BTT– x NBN ceramics was improved for two reasons: on one hand, the incorporation of NBN could suppress the leakage current caused by Ti ions, effectively reducing the contribution of oxygen vacancies to the direct current resistivity, thereby increasing the ceramic's direct current resistivity (ρ dc); on the other hand, the orthorhombic distortion was reduced, and the remanent polarization was enhanced. Among them, the 0.3Bi 3 TiTaO 9 -0.7Na 0.5 Bi 2.5 Nb 2 O 9 ceramic demonstrated excellent comprehensive performance: the values of d 33 , T c , and P r were 14.4 pC/N, 777.8 °C, and 9.82 μC/cm2, respectively. Specifically, at 500 °C, tan δ and ρ dc were 0.67 % and 1.01 × 108 Ω∙cm, respectively, and after depolarization at 750 °C, its d 33 remained at 97.92 % of the original value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on improving the electrical properties of 0.4CaBi 2 Nb 2 O 9 -0.6Na 0.5 Bi 2.5 Nb 2 O 9 piezoelectric ceramics through Gd doping. The effect of Gd3+ replacing Ca2+ and Na+ on the 0.4CaBi 2 Nb 2 O 9 -0.6Na 0.5 Bi 2.5 Nb 2 O 9 (0.4CBN-0.6NBN) piezoelectric ceramics was subjected to a comprehensive examination. The introduction of Gd3+ has led to the development of a pseudo-tetragonal phase, enhancing the polarization and strengthening the piezoelectric effect. Among the 0.4CBN-0.6NBN- x Gd (x = 0.00–0.05) ceramic samples, the sample at x = 0.03 that exhibits the best piezoelectric properties demonstrates a high Curie temperature of 849.7 °C, low dielectric loss (tan δ) of 1.295 % (at 550 °C), high DC resistivity (ρ DC) of 1.58 × 108 Ω‧cm (at 500 °C), and a high d 33 value of 17.3 pC/N. Following annealing at 800 °C, its d 33 retains 94.2 % of its initial value. The improved electrical performances indicate that the Gd-doped 0.4CBN-0.6NBN ceramics hold a great deal of promise for high-temperature piezoelectric applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezoelectric ceramics are piezoelectric materials with polycrystalline structure and have been widely used in many fields such as medical imaging and sound sensors. As knowledge about this kind of material develops, researchers find piezoelectric ceramics possess favorable piezoelectricity, biocompatibility, mechanical properties, porous structure and antibacterial effect and endeavor to apply piezoelectric ceramics to the field of bone tissue engineering. However, clinically no piezoelectric ceramics have been exercised so far. Therefore, in this paper we present a comprehensive review of the research and development of various piezoelectric ceramics including barium titanate, potassium sodium niobate and zinc oxide ceramics and aims to explore the application of piezoelectric ceramics in bone regeneration by providing a detailed overview of the current knowledge and research of piezoelectric ceramics in bone tissue regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving comprehensive improvement in both piezoelectric coefficient (d33) and mechanical quality factor (Qm) has become a key issue in the research of high‐power piezoelectric ceramics. Here, we focused on Mn‐doped Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3‐Pb(Sc1/2Nb1/2)O3‐PbTiO3 (PIN‐PSN‐PT) relaxor ferroelectric ceramics, where Mn‐doping is employed to enhance Qm. The effects of doping concentration and PT content on phase structure, ferroelectric, dielectric, and electromechanical properties were systematically studied. The well radius matching between Mn ions and B‐site ions facilitates the ion substitution and significantly increases the concentration of oxygen vacancies, thereby enhancing the domain wall pinning effect. A significantly weakened mutual constraint relationship between d33 and Qm is observed in the 2 mol% Mn‐doped PIN‐PSN‐PT ceramics with tetragonal phase, which exhibits Qm exceeding 3000 while maintaining d33 higher than 320 pC/N and Curie temperature higher than 300°C, leading to the vibration velocity over 1.15 m/s. Rayleigh analysis reveals the higher intrinsic piezoelectric response in high PT components compared to that in low PT components, which was thought to be the origin for the weakened mutual constraint relationship between d33 and Qm in tetragonal Mn‐doped PIN‐PSN‐PT ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The repair of bone defects from various causes remains a significant challenge in clinical settings. Piezoelectric materials have been demonstrated to promote osteogenic differentiation, among which barium titanate (BT) has been widely reported. Magnesium oxide (MgO) dopants not only enhance the piezoelectric properties but also stimulate the osteogenic and angiogenic properties in stem cells. In this study, a MgO‐modified BT/hydroxyapatite (MgO@BT/HA) piezoelectric ceramic scaffold was constructed using three‐dimensional (3D)‐printed technology. The results indicated that the addition of MgO improved the electrical properties of BT (d33 = 68.26 pC/N), and facilitated an increase in the proportion of HA (30%) while maintaining the piezoelectric coefficient (d33 = 2.04 pC/N) of the ceramic system. Furthermore, under the induction of low‐intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) stimulation, in vitro biosafety experiments confirmed that MgO@BT/HA exhibits excellent biosafety and promotes the osteogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CaBi2Nb2O9 (CBN) ceramic is a promising sensing element to convert vibration to electrical signal at temperatures higher than 600°C. However, conventionally sintered ceramics suffer from poor piezoelectric coefficient (d33) and low electrical resistivity (ρdc). Here, we report that CBN ceramics can be prepared by microwave sintering (MS) to mitigate volatilization issue of Bi2O3 and thus suppress the generation of oxygen vacancies usually seen in conventional sintering (CS) as demonstrated by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis and mass‐loss measurement. As compared to the CS, the MS is more favorable for reducing the sintering time, and obtaining a dense, fine, and uniform grain morphology as revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterizations of both surface and interior of the CBN ceramics, leading to an enhancement of 86% and 75% in d33 and ρdc, respectively. Piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) as combined with Rayleigh law analysis clearly revealed that the enhancement of piezoelectric properties was attributed to the thinner domains, the higher domain wall density, and the enhanced domain wall motion in the MS‐940 samples. This study paves an important road to simultaneously improve both d33 and ρdc in CBN ceramics for developing high‐temperature vibration sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐performance piezoelectric ceramic materials are required for piezoelectric sensors under harsh conditions in nuclear power plants, aeronautics, and aerospace. In this work, a lead‐free high‐Curie‐temperature (TC ∼792°C) Aurivillius‐type sodium bismuth niobate, Na0.5Bi2.5Nb2O9 (NBN), was fabricated through spark plasma sintering (SPS). The textured NBN ceramics with a high orientation factor of 83% exhibit significantly enhanced piezoelectric performance with a piezoelectric constant d33 of 31.2 pC/N, three times higher than that of nontextured NBN (d33 ∼ 11.6 pC/N). More importantly, the textured NBN ceramics maintain excellent electrical properties at high temperature, with a high in situ d33 of 35.9 pC/N, very low dielectric loss tanδ = 2.5% (@ 100 kHz) and high dc electrical resistivity ρ of 7.5 MΩ cm at 500°C. These results suggest that the textured NBN ceramics are good high‐temperature piezoelectric ceramic materials, and have promising applications in the field of high‐temperature piezoelectric sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐temperature piezoelectric ceramics with excellent piezoelectric properties are key materials for high‐temperature piezoelectric devices. In this context, bismuth titanate–niobate (Bi3TiNbO9) is one of the most promising candidates, owing to its high Curie temperature (TC) > 900°C. However, the relatively low piezoelectric response of prototype Bi3TiNbO9 does not satisfy the requirements of high‐precision and high‐sensitivity applications. Herein, chromium‐substituted Bi3TiNbO9 with a nominal composition, Bi3Ti1−xCrxNbO9 (BTN‐100xCr), was prepared using the solid‐state reaction method. Raman spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction refinements revealed structural distortions induced by the substitution of chromium. Piezo‐response force microscopy and ferroelectric hysteresis loops showed facile polarization reversal and domain wall movement in chromium‐substituted Bi3TiNbO9. The resultant structural distortion and domain wall movement served as intrinsic and extrinsic contributions to the enhancement of the piezoelectric properties, respectively. Consequently, BTN‐1.5Cr exhibits a high piezoelectric constant (d33) of 17.7 pC/N, which is four times that of Bi3TiNbO9 (4.2 pC/N), a high TC of 908°C, and an excellent thermal stability of piezoelectric and electromechanical coupling properties up to 500°C. These results indicate that chromium substitution enhances the high‐temperature piezoelectric properties of Bi3TiNbO9, and chromium‐substituted Bi3TiNbO9 is a promising candidate for high‐temperature piezoelectric applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-frequency vibration is the core problem that hinders high-precision equipment's positioning accuracy and control accuracy. However, the response of a nonlinear electrical-mechanical coupling system is nonlinear and quite complicated under the ambient random vibrating environment. This paper presents a vibration suppression method through NARX (Nonlinear autoregressive with external input) neural network and its controller. The experiment platform is designed, and its dynamic model is obtained through system identification. The Neural network direct dynamic inverse control system is established, and the controller is designed. Both the simulation and experimental results show that the NARX identification and the controller can effectively achieve vibration suppression, and the experiment's highest vibration rejection ratio is 90.8%. The vibration suppression technology can be extensively applied to low-frequency vibration systems, such as aerospace equipment and high-precision equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In order to explore the ceramic composition in the morphotropic phase boundary suitable for the high temperature electronic components, Pb(Sc1/2Nb1/2)O3-Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3-PbTiO3(PSN-PIN-PT) ceramics were designed and prepared by using the solid-state reaction method. Effect of the ceramic composition on the phase structure and electric properties of the PSN-PIN-PT ceramics were investigated. For 0.40PSN-(0.60-x)PIN-xPT(x = 0.360, 0.375, 0.390, 0.405), the increase in the PT could improve gradually Curie temperature Tc (262–292°C), but will reduce the phase transition TR-T (94–181 °C). Maximum of piezoelectric coefficient d33 (578 pC/N) could be obtained in the 0.40PSN-0.21PIN-0.39PT ceramics, together with large residual polarization Pr (~36.7 µC/cm2) and high coercive field Ec (~9.3 kV/cm). These performances make the PSN-PIN-PT ceramics have great potential applications in the high temperature device. Highlights: It shows the degree of influence of different contents of PSN endmembers and PIN endmembers on the ternary phase of ceramics. The ceramic with high phase transition temperature and high Curie temperature is designed, and the gap between the two is narrowed. While taking good temperature performance into account, the ceramic obtains good piezoelectric performance near the quasi-homogeneous phase boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(K,Na)NbO3(KNN)-based ceramics are a promising lead-free piezoelectric material that could replace Pb(Zr1−xTix)O3-based materials due to their higher Curie temperature and superior electrical properties. However, the volatilization of sodium and potassium during conventional high-temperature sintering makes it difficult to obtain KNN ceramics with a dense structure and excellent electrical properties. Herein, a conventional solid-phase method combined with microwave sintering is applied for the preparation of KNN ceramics. The influence of the microwave sintering process on the microstructure and electrical properties of KNN ceramics were studied. The optimal microwave sintering conditions for KNN ceramics were determined to be 1100°C for 50 min. Under these conditions, the ceramic samples exhibited excellent ferroelectric properties, with the maximum polarization (Pmax) of 20.4 μC/cm2 and a remanent polarization (Pr) of 18.1 μC/cm2. Additionally, the samples demonstrated impressive piezoelectric properties, including the maximum electric field-induced strain (Smax) of 0.0251%, a dynamic piezoelectric coefficient (d33*) of 125.5 pm/V, and a piezoelectric coefficient (d33) of 109.8 pC/N. The study has important implications for the use of microwave sintering to achieve the densification of the ceramic with volatile elements such as KNN-based ceramics at lower sintering temperature and short sintering time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, the enormous potential of lead‐free piezoceramics in ultrasonic transducers and micro‐actuators has driven extensive research and development. Although the piezoelectric coefficient (d33) of lead‐free ceramics is improved unprecedentedly, the breakthrough in comprehensive performance is still a key issue, one of which is the inverse relationship between d33 and Curie temperature (TC), and the other is the temperature stability of piezoelectricity. Here, based on the synergistic optimization of the chemical component modulation and texture technology, the high Curie temperature (≈365 °C), high piezoelectric properties (d33 ≈331 pC/N, d33* ≈561 pm V−1) and advanced piezoelectric temperature stability are realized by embedded PNRs in the conceived and prepared lead‐free single phase 0.96((K0.5Na0.5)(Nb0.98Ta0.02)O3)‐0.01(Bi(Ni0.67Nb0.33)O3)‐0.03(Bi0.5K0.5)HfO3 texture ceramics. The d33 changes by only 2.0% when the temperature is increased from 25 to 100 °C (≈10.0% to 200 °C), while the electrical strain (d33*) changes by only 4.2% when the temperature is increased from 25 to 175 °C (≈9.8% to 200 °C), which is comparable to the commercial lead‐based materials (i.e., PZT‐4). This work demonstrates significant progress in the comprehensive piezoelectric performance (especially the piezoelectric temperature stability) of lead‐free ceramics and inspires further attempts to achieve high‐temperature piezoelectric properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]