Electromechanical Coupling in the Novel 2–2 Parallel-Connected PMN–0.33PT Single-Domain Crystal/Polymer Composite

Abstract

This paper considers effective electromechanical properties of the relaxor-ferroelectric crystal/polymer composite with 2–2 connectivity. A single-domain 0.67Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃—0.33PbTiO₃ crystal/polymer composite is proposed in which the polarisation vectors of components are tailored to optimise the electromechanical coupling factors k*_3j and k* _h . A strong correlation between the hydrostatic electromechanical coupling factor k* _h and the hydrostatic piezoelectric coefficient d* _h is observed near min k* _h and max k* _h . Examples of the condition k* ₃₁ =k* ₃₂ are also considered. The specific advantages and potential of the 2–2 composite in terms of its considerable d* _h and k* _h values are discussed in connection with the studied orientation effect.

Keywords:

• 2–2 crystal/polymer composite
• piezoelectric coefficient
• electromechanical coupling factor

PACS:

• 77.65.-j: Piezoelectricity and electromechanical effects
• 77.84.Lf: Composite materials
• 77.84.-s: Dielectric
• piezoelectric
• ferroelectric
• antiferroelectric materials

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Prof. Dr. R. Stevens (University of Bath, UK), Prof. Dr. P. Bisegna (University of Rome “Tor Vergata,” Italy) and Dr. M. Kamlah (Karlsruhe Research Centre, Germany) for their interest in the research problems. This work was partially supported by the administration of the Southern Federal University (Project No. 11.1.09f on basic research), and this support is gratefully acknowledged by two of the authors (V.Yu.T. and A.E.P.).