We analyze, numerically by the finite element method, three-dimensional electromechanical deformations of a thick laminated plate with layers made of aluminum, a viscoelastic material and a piezoceramic (PZT). Two arrangements of layers are considered. In one case a central PZT layer is surrounded on both sides by viscoelastic layers and aluminum layers are on the outside surfaces. The PZT is p...

We present a topology optimization framework to design periodic composites comprised of piezoelectric constituents that exhibit large flexoelectric constants. The novelty the approach is it leverages representative volume element (RVE)-based computational homogenization enables analysis where characteristic dimensions microstructure are significantly smaller than those structure, and as such re...

In the last decade, lead zirconate titanate oxide (PZT) thin-film actuators have received increasing attention because of their high frequency bandwidth, large actuation strength, fast response, and small size. The PZT film thickness is usually less than several microns as opposed to hundreds of microns for bulk PZT patches that are commercially available. As a result, PZT thin-film actuators p...

An efficient, electrically conductive, chemical barrier for the integration of piezoelectric Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) films on reactive metal substrates has been developed, opening new possibilities for PZT integration on micromechanical and semiconductor devices, Very reactive zirconium films have been taken in order to test the quality of the specially designed RuO2/Cr buffer under the condition of ...

Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3/polycarbonate (PZT/PC) composite films with different concentration of PZT ferroelectric nanocrystals are prepared. The polarization and dielectric relaxation behavior of PZT ferroelectric nanocrystals are characterized using in situ transmittance and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements for the first time. It's found that 10% PZT/PC composite film has the largest orientation...