High Energy Density Piezoelectric Ceramics for Energy Harvesting Devices

The ceramics, (0.65 + y)Pb(Zr0.47Ti0.53)-(0.35 - y)Pb[(Ni1-x Zn-x)(1/3)Nb-2/3]O-3 have a morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) of pseudo-cubic and tetragonal structures. Their epsilon(T)(33)/epsilon(0) value considerably decreased on the pseudo-cubic side of the MPB composition, but the d(33) and k(p) slowly decreased on both sides of the MPB. Therefore, the maximum transduction coefficient (d(33) * g(33)) was obtained from the composition on the pseudo-cubic side of the MPB, because g33 is given by d(33)/epsilon(T)(33). This result could be applied to other systems containing an MPB of pseudo-cubic and tetragonal structures. Furthermore, a d(33) * g(33) value of 20 056 3 10(-15) m(2)/N, which is the highest value reported so far for polycrystalline ceramics, was obtained from the 0.68Pb(Zr0.47Ti0.53)O-3-0.32Pb(Ni0.6Zn0.4)(1/3)Nb2/3O3 ceramic.