High-Performance Curved Piezoelectric Single-Crystal Composites via 3D-Printing-Assisted Dice and Insert Technology for Underwater Acoustic Transducer Applications

Abstract

Piezoelectric single-crystal composites (PSCCs) have been studied and applied because of their improved resolution and power source level performance in underwater acoustic transducer applications relative to traditional piezoelectric ceramic composites (PCCs). Currently, the methods to fabricate curved PSCCs are mostly derived from PCCs, including molding with flexible backing, molding with heating, and molding with the casting rubber method. Unfortunately, the methods mentioned above are not suitable for preparing curved PSCCs for underwater acoustic transducer applications because of their brittleness, the large anisotropy of piezoelectric single crystals, and the high thickness (>2 mm) of PSCCs for achieving the low operating frequency (<700 kHz). In the present work, we proposed a preparation method, 3D-printing-assisted dice and insert technology, and successfully prepared curved PSCCs with high performance. Although the PSCCs have a low volume fraction of single crystals in this work (∼33%), a high thickness electromechanical factor k t of 86% and a large piezoelectric coefficient d 33 of 1550 pC/N were achieved in the curved 1−3 PSCCs, which are superior to other reported PSCCs and PCCs with nearly the same volume fraction of single crystals and piezoelectric ceramics. This work presents a paradigm for fabricating curved PSCCs for underwater acoustic transducers, and this method shows the potential for large-area, special-shaped PSCCs, which are key materials for next-generation underwater acoustic transducers.

Flexible 1-3 Piezoelectric Composites with Soft Embedded Conductive Interconnects for Underwater Acoustic Transducers

“…1-3 Piezoelectric composites have been widely used in underwater sonar, nondestructive testing, and medical ultrasound diagnosis because of their superior properties to bulk piezoelectric materials. − The low-density polymer doped with three-dimensional connectivity reduces the transverse vibration, , which improves the electromechanical coupling coefficient k t to obtain higher energy conversion efficiency and reduces the acoustic impedance to match the medium such as water or human organization. , High-performance piezoelectric materials and new structures were the main research keys of 1-3 piezoelectric composites in the field of underwater acoustic in recent years. As an active material, piezoelectric ceramics and piezoelectric single crystals are the main representatives of high-performance piezoelectric materials.…”

Comparing Different Electrodes of Piezoelectric Single Crystal Composites for Underwater Acoustic Transducers

“…Pb-based relaxor piezoelectric single crystal composites (PSCCs) show great potential for improving the performance of next generation underwater acoustic transducers (UATs) 1 owing to their superior electromechanical and piezoelectric properties compared to piezoelectric ceramic composites and their higher figure of merit (d 33 × g 33 ) compared to piezoelectric single crystals (PSCs). 2−8 The electrode plays a significant role for piezoelectric materials in directly determining the reliability and electrical efficiency of piezoelectric devices.…”

“…Pb-based relaxor piezoelectric single crystal composites (PSCCs) show great potential for improving the performance of next generation underwater acoustic transducers (UATs) owing to their superior electromechanical and piezoelectric properties compared to piezoelectric ceramic composites and their higher figure of merit ( d 33 × g 33 ) compared to piezoelectric single crystals (PSCs). − The electrode plays a significant role for piezoelectric materials in directly determining the reliability and electrical efficiency of piezoelectric devices. To maximize the advantages of piezoelectric materials in devices, a major part of research on piezoelectric material electrodes is focused on structural design to meet flexibility requirements or achieve a high piezoelectric response of devices. − In addition to high efficiency and good flexibility, the adhesion durability of electrodes in maintaining the electro performances of PSCCs during the service period is also essential.…”

“…Hence, low-temperature electrode preparation technologies are required for PSCCs. Recently, electrode fabrication methods including magnetron sputtering, electron beam evaporation, and screen printing low-temperature silver paste are mostly commonly methods used to prepare electrodes for PSCCs. ,, However, the cross-linked structure of PSCCs (Figure a) causes the surface of the electrode to be discontinuous, affording a low adhesion strength of electrodes on PSCCs. Typically, to achieve broad bandwidth, PSCCs are designed to vibrate on the thickness resonance mode , owing to the ultrahigh thickness electromechanical coupling factor of PSCCs. ,, Nevertheless, the large vibration amplitude under high drive voltage of UAT applications and high-frequency vibrations of the thickness resonance mode causes a large surface-displacement difference between the PSC and the polymer in PSCCs.…”

“…Recently, electrode fabrication methods including magnetron sputtering, electron beam evaporation, and screen printing low-temperature silver paste are mostly commonly methods used to prepare electrodes for PSCCs. 1,19,20 However, the cross-linked structure of PSCCs (Figure 1a) causes the surface of the electrode to be discontinuous, affording a low adhesion strength of electrodes on PSCCs. Typically, to achieve broad bandwidth, PSCCs are designed to vibrate on the thickness resonance mode 21,22 owing to the ultrahigh thickness electromechanical coupling factor of PSCCs.…”