Crystallization behavior and electroactive properties of PVDF,P(VDF-TrFE) and their blend films

PVDF, poly(vinylidene fluoride), as a semi-crystalline polymer, has interesting electroactive properties but usual melt and solution processing techniques result in its thermodynamically favored non-polar α-phase. By comparison, poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) P(VDF-TrFE), PT for short, directly crystallizes in the polar β-phase under the same conditions as PVDF. In this study, blend thin films comprising PVDF and P(VDF-TrFE) were prepared by solvent casting method. The difference in the crystallization behavior is comprehensively investigated between the polymers: PVDF, P(VDF-TrFE), and the resulting blend films. It is found that replacement of the fluoride atom in TrFE monomer induces a strong steric hindrance that may alter the crystallization process to become more favorable for nucleation of the PVDF β-phase. To figure out the effect of TrFE content on the crystallization behavior and electroactive properties, films with different blend ratios of PVDF and P(VDF-TrFE) were prepared. We found that the PVDF films exhibit higher crystallization activation energy (ΔE) as PT content increases. The atomic force microscopy (AFM) in the piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) mode illustrated that P5T5 films with equal contents of PVDF and P(VDF-TrFE) induced the highest d₃₃ values.     

Non-local theory solution of two collinear mode-I cracks in piezoelectric materials

In this paper, the basic solution of two collinear cracks in a piezoelectric material plane subjected to a uniform tension loading is investigated by means of the non-local theory. Through the Fourier transform, the problem is solved with the help of two pairs of integral equations, in which the unknown variables are the jumps of displacements across the crack surfaces. To solve the integral equations, the jumps of displacements across the crack surfaces are directly expanded in a series of Jacobi polynomials. Numerical examples are provided to show the effects of the interaction of two cracks, the materials constants and the lattice parameter on the stress field and the electric displacement field near crack tips. Unlike the classical elasticity solution, it is found that no stress and electric displacement singularities are present at crack tips. The non-local elastic solutions yield a finite hoop stress at the crack tip, thus allowing us to using the maximum stress as a fracture criterion in piezoelectric materials.     

Refractive index, birefringence, third-order non-linearity and piezoelectric resonance studies of L-lysine monohydrochloride dihydrate single crystals

The principal refractive indices of L-lysine monohydrochloride dihydrate (L-LMHCl) single crystal for different wavelengths were measured by minimum deviation method at room temperature. The experimental values of refractive indices fit well with the theoretical Cauchy's equations. The birefringence and the crossing angle between the optical axes were calculated. The parameters of Sellmeier's single term dispersion equation were determined by least square method. A simple interferometric technique was used to observe the interference patterns along the optic plane and to qualitatively analyze the optical homogeneity of the grown crystal. The nonlinear refractive index (n₂) and nonlinear absorption coefficient (β) were also determined using Z-scan technique. The piezoelectric resonance in dielectric dispersions was observed at room temperature.     

Phase transition behavior and piezoelectric properties of low-Li and high-Sb modified KNN based piezoceramics

(Na_0.5K_0.5)_0.975Li_0.025Nb_0.82−xSb_xTa_0.18O₃ lead-free piezoceramics were prepared by the conventional solid-state sintering method. All samples possess a pure perovskite phase, and no secondary phase could be certified. The crystal structure changes from tetragonal to pseudo-cubic with increasing amount of Sb. The ferroelectric Curie temperature (T_c) shifts to lower temperature while the tetragonal to orthorhombic phase transition temperature (T_o-t) shows no obvious change with increasing Sb⁵⁺. Enhanced piezoelectric and electromechanical properties are obtained with x=0.06: d₃₃=352 pC/N, k_p=47% and k_t=38%, showing that they could be promising candidates as lead-free piezoelectric materials.     

Thickness-shear vibration of a quartz plate connected to piezoelectric plates and electric field sensing

We study thickness-shear vibration of a quartz plate connected to two piezoelectric ceramic plates with initial deformations caused by a biasing electric field. The theory for small deformations superposed on finite biasing deformations in an electroelastic body is used. It is shown that the resonant frequencies of the incremental thickness-shear vibration of the quartz plate vary with the biasing electric field. The biasing electric field induced frequency shift depends linearly on the field. Therefore this effect may be used for electric field sensing. The dependence of the electric field induced frequency shift on various material and geometric parameters is examined. When the electric field is of the order of 100 V/mm, the relative frequency shift is of the order of 10⁻⁵. The case when the piezoelectric plates are replaced by piezomagnetic plates is also investigated for magnetic field sensing, and similar results are obtained.     

AFM analysis of piezoelectric nanogenerator based on n-diamond/n-ZnO heterojunction

We have demonstrated a high performance piezoelectric nanogenerator by scanning a diamond-coated conductive tip on ZnO nanorod arrays in an AFM system with contact-mode. About 95% ZnO nanorods generate piezoelectric current due to the excellent mechanical and electrical properties of the tip. The tip's nitrogen-doped diamond coating is the key factor to maintain effective physical contact and electrical contact to ZnO nanorods, leading to efficient piezoelectric generation. Rectifying n⁺-n heterojunction is formed when the nitrogen-doped diamond tip contacted with a ZnO nanorod, which plays an important role in accumulating and releasing piezoelectric charges of the piezoelectric nanogenerator. Our research indicates that conductive diamond film is an ideal electrode for this type of piezoelectric nanogenerator.     

Electro-mechanical sliding frictional contact of a piezoelectric half-plane under a rigid conducting punch

This paper investigates the two-dimensional sliding frictional contact of a piezoelectric half-plane in the plane strain state under the action of a rigid flat or a triangular punch. It is assumed that the punch is a perfect electrical conductor with a constant electric potential. By using the Fourier integral transform technique and the superposition theorem, the problem is reduced to a pair of coupled Cauchy singular integral equations and then is numerically solved to determine the unknown contact pressure and surface electric charge distribution. The effects of the friction coefficient and electro-mechanical loads on the normal contact stress, normal electric displacement, in-plane stress and in-plane electric displacement are discussed in detail. It is found that the friction coefficient has a significant effect on the electro-mechanical sliding frictional contact behaviors of the piezoelectric materials.     

Integrated approach to electrode and AlN depositions for bulk acoustic wave (BAW) devices

This paper investigates the (002) texture of AlN films deposited by reactive pulsed direct current sputtering on Al, Al–Cu, W and Mo metal electrodes. X-Ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy studies show that the AlN texture is dependent on the deposition conditions and nature of the underlayers. A smooth underlayer with a sharp texture represents the best combination of properties. AlN films with a full width at half maximum less than 1.5 have been deposited on the electrodes studied. It is also possible to deposit well-textured electrodes with a roughness less than 2.5 nm.     

Flexural vibration analyses of piezoelectric ceramic tubes with mass loads in ultrasonic actuators

Based on Timoshenko beam model, a theoretical model of radially polarized piezoelectric ceramic tubes is investigated. In the model, the piezoelectric effects are considered, and the shear correction factor is introduced which reveals effects of the size of the cross-section and Poisson’s ratio. Based on the model, the particular attentions are devoted to effects of the boundary conditions at two ends on flexural resonance frequencies of the piezoelectric ceramic tubes. Changing the sizes of the tubes and the mass loads at both free ends, the variations of the flexural resonance frequencies of free–free piezoelectric ceramic tubes are calculated theoretically. Besides, the flexural resonance frequencies of the piezoelectric ceramic tube cantilevers with mass loads at one free end are also investigated theoretically. To verify accuracy of the theoretical mode, the flexural resonance frequencies for different lengths of the piezoelectric ceramic tubes and different loaded masses are measured experimentally. The theoretical results agree well with the experimental measurement, which demonstrates that the model is accurate for analyzing the flexural resonance frequencies of the piezoelectric ceramic tubes with mass loads.     

超声辅助电镀的仿真与实验*

为了提高镀层的表面质量,提出了一种超声辅助电镀的方法。超声的空化与搅拌作用可以影响电镀的电沉积过程。设计了合理的换能器结构,并搭建了超声辅助电镀装置。通过对模型进行压电声学场与电镀场耦合仿真分析,结果表明：在硫酸铜电解液,镀铜时间60s,电压300V条件下,进行超声辅助电镀,镀层厚度分布均匀,镀层中部电流密度分布均匀,边缘最大电流密度是未加超声的2倍左右 。基于仿真结果,进行相同的实验测试,结果表明：超声辅助电镀可以提高镀层的均匀性,减少铜颗粒表面的杂质,提高表面的光洁度。阴极样品距离换能器头部位置在60mm左右,镀层质量良好。