Modelling and characterization of piezoelectric and polarization gradients

Abstract

A gradient of the piezoelectric properties in monolithic ceramics can be useful to minimize mechanical stresses inside piezoelectric bending actuators or at interfaces between layers with different electromechanical properties, and increase the bandwidth of ultrasonic transducers. Piezoelectric gradients can be prepared by different techniques. We use a powder pressing technique to prepare a gradient of the chemical composition, which is transformed to the piezoelectric gradient by the poling process. Conventional mixed-oxide powders of BaTiO3 with different amount of Sn from 7.5 up to 15 mol% and Mn-doped BaTiO3 were used to produce lead-free ceramic samples. We describe the poling process using a equivalent circuit approach. The ferroelectric behavior of the different layers are described by the Preisach model. In the Ba(Ti,Sn)O3 system the properties can be changed from ferroelectric to paraelectric depending on the Sn content. A gradient of polarization and piezoelectric properties can be observed in monolithic ceramics with a tin gradient. The profile of the polarization distribution was measured by the thermal wave method. A gradient of polarization where the sign of polarization changes can be induced in a system consisting of piezoelectric hard and soft materials. We describe a special poling process using our poling model. The principle is demonstrated in a two layer model system.