Material characterisation for design with piezoelectric materials

Cochran, Sandy; Alexandrou, Anna; Moldovan, Alexandru; Zhang, Zhen; Fotouhi, Sakineh; Fenu, Nico; Li, Xuan; Lucas, Margaret; Li, Bo

Abstract

Piezoelectric materials are used in many different industries. Often, a material type will be chosen for convenience, with adequate performance and wellknown material characteristics. However, opportunities for new materials have emerged, e.g. lead-free materials to reduce environmental impact, piezocrystals to increase performance, and structures for new modes of operation.
Material characterisation is key for all these, principally defined in an IEEE standard [1] requiring multiple samples approximating unimodal behaviours for electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), with data analysis delivering the complex elastopiezo- dielectric (EPD) matrix. This gold standard still carries sample preparation and measurement costs, introduces inaccuracy and lacks flexibility, e.g. in measurement over ranges of temperature, T, pressure, P, and electric field, E. Hence, other methods are used, e.g. the Berlincourt meter, laser Doppler vibrometry and resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS), though often providing only subsets of the EPD matrix.
Motivated by demand to demonstrate performance of new materials in practical applications, often with virtual and physical prototyping, we have been exploring, adapting and demonstrating characterisation techniques with the status quo and progress outlined here. One advance uses RUS plus EIS with a single sample [2], albeit RUS needs additional equipment and skills. Whilst acting as barrier to wide adoption this has allowed variation in T and P, see Fig. 1. Another step is to use physical prototypes for application-oriented characterisation, including varying E [3]. These advances still fail to reach the ideal of characterisation with a single sample and a single EIS measurement. Using case studies, we describe our work in this area and present a strategy for further development.
Keywords: Piezoelectric materials, Characterisation, Device prototyping.
References:
[1] IEEE “An American National Standard IEEE Standard on Piezoelectricity,” ANSI/IEEE Std 176-
1987, pp. 1–74, 1988, doi: 10.1109/IEEESTD.1988.79638

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Abstract
• Conference Name: Ferroelectrics UK and Ireland 2025
• Start Date: May 1, 2025
• End Date: May 2, 2025
• Acceptance Date: Apr 3, 2025
• Deposit Date: Apr 29, 2025
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/14333605