Quantitative Domain Engineering for Realizing d₃₆ Piezoelectric Coefficient in Tetragonal Ceramics

Abstract

Piezoelectric devices based on d₃₆ mode are remarkably stable, because the face-shear piezoelectric coefficient d36 has a poling direction parallel to that of the applied electric field that depolarization rarely occurs. However, piezoelectric ceramics conventionally possess three piezoelectric coefficients (i.e., d₃₃, d₃₁, and d₁₅), while d₃₆ only exists in single crystals of specific point groups and cut directions. In this work, we realize d₃₆ piezoelectric coefficient in tetragonal piezoelectric ceramics by domain engineering. We find that domain engineering by transversal electric poling is preferred compared with the transversal mechanical poling, due to the simpler process, higher reliability, and higher resultant d₃₆ piezoelectric coefficient. By combining the Diffraction-Plane-Transformation (DPT) model with the domain engineering by transversal electric poling, we demonstrate a quantitative domain engineering method for the first time, which could be used for optimizing the piezoelectric properties via precise design of the domain structures in piezoelectric materials.

Keywords: quantitative domain engineering, tetragonal piezoelectric ceramics, d36 piezoelectric coefficient