Piezoelectric transducers

Piezoelectric transducers are based on

the property of accumulating charges if
stressed (direct effect)and to strain in
case of an electric signal is applied
across their electrods (inverse effect)
1
basics..
Piezoelectricity is due to asymmetries in
the crystallographic structure.
Piezoelectric transducers
2
Polarization
in the same
direction as
the stress
Perpendicular
polarization
Null polarization
Ex. Barium Titanate:
Ceramics
Piezoelectric transducers
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The Curie point is about 130C. Above 130C, a nonpiezoelectric
cubic phase is stable, where the center of positive charge (Ba2+
and Ti4+) coincides with the center of the negative charge (O2)
(Figure a).
When cooled below the Curie point, a tetragonal structure (shown
in Figure b) develops where the center of positive charge is
displaced relative to the O2ions, leading to the formation of
electric dipoles.
(a) Cubic lattice (above Curie temperature). (b) Tetragonal lattice (below Curie temperature).
An example..
Barium Titanate (BaTiO
3
)
Piezoelectric transducers
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Piezoelectric transducers
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Rosettes of piezoelectrics exist to
detect deformation in two or three
direction
Ref. Book G. Gautschi, Piezoelectric
Sensorics, Springer Edt.
Advantages
High stiffness, to measure force.
High resonant frequency (up to 500 kHz)
Stability, reproducibility and linearity
Large operating temperature range
Low sensitivity to external magnetic field.
Drawbacks
Piezoelectric transducers
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Curie Temperature, T
c
Resonant behavior
High output impedance
Cannot be used to detect static
quantities
Benchmark between sensors
Piezoelectric transducers
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High responsitivity!!
Low threshold!!
High operating range!!
Modelling..
Piezoelectric transducers
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Y
s sT S
YS
l
l
Y
A
F
T
1
; = =
=

= =
Y=Young module
P E E D + = =
0

In case an electric field is applied to a dielctric material
Where
D is the elctric displacement vector and
P is the polarization
The relationship between mechanical Stress and Strain
In case of a piezoelectric the mutual
effects come to play:
stress constant a for constant dielectric
dE T s S
E dT D
T
E
T

+ =
+ =
Electric field Stress
Polarization
Strain
Modelling..
Piezoelectric transducers
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constant ric Piezoelect (C/N)
field E constant a for softness
d
s
E
In real devices 6 possible axis must be
considered:
3 for stress due to
compression/expansion
3 for torsional stress
Piezoelectric transducers
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The matrix form of equations are:
[ ] [ ][ ]
[ ] [ ][ ] 3 , 2 , 1 ,
6 ,.., 1
3 , 2 , 1
= =

=
=
=
j i E D
j
i
T s S
j ij i
j ij i

[ ] [ ][ ] [ ][ ] + = E d T s S
k ik j ij i
Piezoelectric transducers
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[ ] [ ][ ] [ ][ ]
[ ] [ ][ ] [ ][ ]

= =
= =
+ =
+ =
m i for m k i
d d n j
T d E D
E d T s S
im
ji ij
n in m im i
k ik j ij i
0 3 , 2 , 1 , ,
6 ..., , 1 ,

In parameters: the first index defines the polarization axis while

the second index states for the stress direction!
Piezoelectric transducers
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Ex. In case of a torsional stress of 1N/m
2
applied to axis 2 (direction 5) will
produce a charge density of 515 pC/m
2
along direction 1.
Piezoelectric Cristals
Piezoelectric behavior in lithium niobate
(LiNbO3) and lithium tantalate (LiTaO3) was first
studied in the mid-1960s [2]. Both have values
of approximately 40. If cut correctly, they have
coupling coefficient (k) values of 0.65 and 0.4,
respectively. In addition, the Curie points for both
are extremely high (T0 ~ 1210C for LiNbO3,and
620C for LiTaO3).
Piezoelectric transducers
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PbTiO3 shows to posses excellent piezoelectric
properties when oriented along the [001]
direction. The piezoelectric charge coefficient
d33 of 25 10
10
C N
1
, coupling coefficient k of
more than 0.9, and ultrahigh strain of 1.7% were
achieved in Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 solid
solution.
These single-crystal relaxor materials are now
being intensively investigated and show great
promise for future generations of piezoelectric
transducers and sensors.
Piezoelectric Ceramics
Perovskites
Perovskite is the name given to a group of
materials with general formula ABO3 having the
same structure as the mineral calcium titanate
(CaTiO3), barium titanate (BaTiO3), lead titanate
(PbTiO3), lead zirconate titanate (PbZrxTi1-xO3,
or PZT), lead lanthanum zirconate titanate [Pb1-
xLax(ZryT1-y)1-x/4O3, or PLZT], and lead
Piezoelectric transducers
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xLax(ZryT1-y)1-x/4O3, or PLZT], and lead
magnesium niobate [PbMg1/3Nb2/3O3, or PMN].
Es. The d15 and d33 coefficients of BaTiO3 are
270 and 191 10
12
C N
1
, respectively. The k for
BaTiO3 is approximately 0.5.
Calcium-doped PbTiO3 has a relative dielectric
constant e33 of 200, a d33 of 65 10
12
C/N, and
a k of approximately 0.5. The addition of calcium
results in a lowering of the Curie point to 225C.
Piezoelectric Ceramics
Originally piezoelectric ceramics shows a
random orientation of dipoles leading to a null
polarization
In order to obtain a preferential axis (polar axis)
a polling process is required..
1) heating the material close to the Curie
temperature
Piezoelectric transducers
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temperature
2) applying an electric field (10kV/cm) parallel to
the polar axis
3) cooling the material exposed to the electric
field
Piezoelectric transducers
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dE T s S
E dT D
E
T
+ =
+ =
1) Actuator working mode :
dE S
E D
T
=
=
2) Sensor working mode in short circuit (E=0)
Modelling..
Piezoelectric transducers
17
2) Sensor working mode in short circuit (E=0)
T s S
dT D
E
=
=
3) Sensor working mode in open circuit (D=0) :
dE T s S
E dT
E
T
+ =
+ = 0
gT T
d
E
T
= =

g is the voltage piezoelectric constant

Examples
Piezoelectric transducers
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Example 1:
Lead titanate:
d=-44pC/N;

T
=600
o
;
g=-8(mV/m)/(N/m
2
);
We are looking for the Voltage (open
circuit) due to a force of 1000 N applied
to a cube with a 1 cm side.
Piezoelectric transducers
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to a cube with a 1 cm side.
SOLUTION:
Open circuit operation:
( )( )
V 829 10 1 * 10 9 . 82
kV/m 9 . 82
10 85 . 8 600
) 01 /(. 1000 10 44
0
2 3
12
2 12
= = =
=
=


= =
=

h E V
T
d
E
D
T

EXAMPLE 2:
Requirements:
The strain due to an applied voltage
V=1kV (no mechanical load).
SOLUTION
0 = T
Piezoelectric transducers
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( )
( )
nm 44
10 4 . 4 01 . 0 10 4 . 4
4 . 4
10 4 . 4
01 . 0
1000 10 44
0
8 6
6
12
=
= = =
=
= =

= =
=

h
dE S
T
A method for the estimation of the d parameter
dt
dF
d
dt
dQ
I
F d Q
T d D
33
33
33
= =
=
=
sCR R
R
s
, C
s
sensor
C
c
wires
R
a
, C
a
voltage amplifier.
Piezoelectric transducers
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sCR
sCR
I
sC
R
R
I I
C
+
=
+
=
1
1
RC con
s
s
C
F d
sCR
sRC
C
F d
sCR
R
sF d
sCR
R
I
sCR
sCR
I
sC
I
sC
V
C
=
+

=
+
=
+
=
=
+
=
+
= =
1 1 1
1 1
1 1
33 33
33
In the high frequency domain the relationship between V and F is
frequency independent
Forcing the device with a known force and measuring V it is
possible to estimate d
33
In case of a unknown C a high value capacitor can be added in parallel.
dt
dF
d
dt
dQ
I
F d Q
T d D
33
33
33
= =
=
=
RC
s d V
= =

con
33
R
s
, C
s
del sensore
C
c
del cavo
R
a
, C
a
dellampl. di tens.
A method for the estimation of the d parameter
Piezoelectric transducers
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RC
s C F
=
+
=

con
1
33
The circuit is a high pass filter .
Ex: In case of C=0.1pF, R=1T :
F
t,Amp
=1/(2RC)=3Hz
Moreover, the high output impedance of the
piezoelectric can cause coupling problem with
the amplifier
sCR
R
+ 1
V
I
I
eq
I
2
5
'
10
=
A
A
V
V
The Charge Amplifier
Piezoelectric transducers
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sCR + 1
( )
( ) ( )
A sRC
sRC
C
Ad
F
V
A C C sR
sRC
C
Ad
F
V
F sd
A
sC
sC
R
sCR
A
V
sC ' V V
R
sRC
V F sd
I I I
f
f
f
f
f
f
f
f
f
'
eq
+

+ + +
=
=
|
|

\
|
+ +
+
= +
+

= + +
1
1 1
1 1
0
1
0
33
33
33
33
2
Amp , t
f
ChA , t
f
A RC
f <<

=
2
1
R
V
I
I
eq
I
2
A
V
V =
'
A method for the estimation of the d parameter
The Drift problem!!
Piezoelectric transducers
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Ex: if C
f
=10pF, C=0.1pF, R=1T, R
f
=1T si ha:
f
t,Amp
=1/(2RC)=3Hz
f
t, ChA
=1/(2R
f
C
f
)=0.03Hz
sCR
R
+ 1
Amp t
f f
ChA t
f
C R
f
, ChA t,
,
f
: obtain to allow can parameters feedback suitbale
2
1
<
=

PZT characterization
Target: a new low cost strategy to characterize the behaviour of
piezoelectric bimorphs in a cantilever configuration, envisaged for
research and educational activities.
Methodology: a contact-less measurement system based on
coupled Infra-Red (IR) sensors and a CCD based calibration
facility.

Piezoelectric
IR Receiver
IR Transmitter
Reference
point
EL-23G/ST-23G



Plexiglas

Physik Instrument
Amplifier
Piezoelectric
bimorph
DAQ Card
PCI-6052E
Infrared
Diode

Waveform
generator
Conditioning
circuit
Piezoelectric
bimorph

IR sensors
Piezoelectric bimorphs
PZT characterization
The calibration strategy for the IR system.
The system is composed of:
a CCD sensor
an image processing tool estimating the position of a marker
deposited on the top of the piezoelectric actuator (LabVIEW, IMAQ
Vision).
To this aim the actuator is activated by a low frequency stimulus (lower
than 200 mHz) (compatible with the 30 frames/s rate of the video
acquisition system).
Deflection
The virtual instrument for
calibration of the IR tool.

Deflection
Conversion factor [mm/pixel]
Environment developed to process
frames recorded by the CCD device.
PZT characterization
The calibration strategy for the IR system.
out
V 02162 . 0 =

u =6 m u

=6 m
CCD conversion factor: 13.7 m/pixel
PZT characterization
Hysteresis
Inverse piezoelectric effect.
Rate-dependent memory
dominates at high
frequencies due to a phase-
lag effect.
Rate-independent memory
prevails at low frequencies.
S
Among Piezoelectric, some materials
exist which show a spontaneous
polarization: these materials are called
Piroelectrics and shows a relationship
between the polarization and the
temperature.
Pyroelectric materials
29
DP = A DT
Ferroelectric materials are a special
class of non linear Piroelectric materials
where the spontaneous polarization can
be reversed by an external electric field.
Ferroelectric materials
Domain wall
Dipoles inertia!
DV
P
-
P
+
V(P)
Ferroelectric materials
DV
P
-
P
+
V(P)
VIDEO
Sumarizing
32
Perovskite:
(BaTiO
3
);
(PbTiO3);
(CaTiO3);
PZT;
PLZT;
ceramics
Ex. Barium Titanate:
Ceramics
Piezoelectric transducers
33
The Curie point is about 130C. Above 130C, a nonpiezoelectric
cubic phase is stable, where the center of positive charge (Ba2+
and Ti4+) coincides with the center of the negative charge (O2)
(Figure a).
When cooled below the Curie point, a tetragonal structure (shown
in Figure b) develops where the center of positive charge is
displaced relative to the O2ions, leading to the formation of
electric dipoles.
(a) Cubic lattice (above Curie temperature). (b) Tetragonal lattice (below Curie temperature).