A new category of piezoelectric ceramics with very high electromechanical coupling was discovered in a lead zinc niobate:lead titanate solid solution in a single crystal form. The maximum coupling factor k33 reaches 95%, which corresponds to the energy conversion rate twice as high as the conventional lead zirconate titanate ceramics. This paper reviews the previous studies on superior piezoelectricity in relaxor ferroelectric: lead titanate solid solutions and on the possible mechanisms of this high electromechanical coupling.

The piezoelectric and dielectric properties of ferroelectric thin films and ceramics were investigated in detail as a function of the frequency and amplitude of the driving field. A description, which is based on the theories of domain wall pinning by randomly distributed imperfections in magnetic materials, is used to interpret the electromechanical behaviour of several ferroelectric bulk ceramic and thin film compositions. With this approach, it is possible to make quantitative estimates of the domain wall contributions to the electromechanical properties of ferroelectric sensors and actuators.

Active thin film coatings on optical fibers provide a variety of functions that are being used to develop active all-fiber optical devices. Two types of active coatings that are of interest for device development include resistive and piezoelectric coatings. Resistive coatings can be used to heat an optical fiber, while piezoelectric coatings can be used to strain the fiber. Localized changes in the fiber waveguiding properties can be achieved by electrically activating the fiber coating. These coated fibers show promise for applications such as optical phase shifters and modulators.

Recent developments in the fabrication of diffraction gratings within the core of an optical fiber have provided the means for making a variety of intra-core reflection and band pass filters. By combining these passive intra-core fiber devices with active coatings, wavelength tunable devices have been demonstrated. Wavelength tunable devices are expected to have a variety of applications in telecommunications and sensing networks. A review of recent developments in fiber coating and analysis techniques, device fabrication, and applications of active all-fiber devices are presented along with a discussion of which coating materials are of interest in active devices.

Novel designs of the force sensing components for an atomic force microscope (AFM) and lateral force microscope (LFM) have been proposed in this study. By using PZT thin layers, a smart structure that can perform force sensing and feedback actuation at the same time is applied to the AFM. Clear images can be derived by an AFM equipped with this smart structure. A structure of two parallel PZT bars integrated on a SiO2 free standing cantilever has shown potential for operation in an LFM, because a difference in the piezoelectric charge outputs from these two beams will be induced by frictional force when the cantilever end quasi-staticly contacts with the sample surface in dynamic scanning across the surface.

La-modified PbTiO3thin films were grown on (100)MgO by rf-magnetron sputtering. Thin films were prepared by “two step method” in which the different Pb/Ti ratios during the growth were used for the first step (0–4nm of thickness) and the subsequent second step (>4nm). The Pb/Ti ratios of the first step were selected from 1.2 to 1.5. The Pb/Ti ratio of the second step, on the other hand, was fixed at 1.4. Strong dependency of the direction of the spontaneous polarization (Ps) to the Pb/Ti ratio of the first step was observed. It is concluded that the direction of the Ps in the films is determined by the atomic species of the first layer of the films.

The design and implementation of microelectromechanical (MEMS) systems requires a sound understanding of the influence of film stress on both the ferroelectric and piezoelectric characteristics of thin films to be used for sensing and/or actuation. Experiments were conducted in which thin film samples of sol-gel derived PZT were subjected to applied biaxial stresses from -139 to 142 MPa. Films were characterized at known stress states (derived from known values of residual stress and large deflection plate theory) in terms of their ferroelectric polarization (saturated and remnant), dielectric constants, coercive field strengths, and tan δ. Results obtained indicate that domain wall motion in thin films contributes much less to the observed response than is typical for bulk PZT materials. Alternative mechanisms are proposed in an attempt to explain the discrepancies.

Molecular modeling and dielectric measurements are being used to identify mechanisms governing piezoelectric behavior in polyimides such as dipole orientation during poling, as well as degree of piezoelectricity achievable. Molecular modeling on polyimides containing pendant, polar nitrile (CN) groups has been completed to determine their remanent polarization. Experimental investigation of their dielectric properties evaluated as a function of temperature and frequency has substantiated numerical predictions. With this information in hand, we are then able to suggest changes in the molecular structures, which will then improve upon the piezoelectric response.

This research focuses on the synthesis and characterization of a piezoelectric (β-CN)-APB/ODPA polyimide. The remanent polarization and piezoelectric d31 and g33 coefficients are reported to assess the effect of synthesis variations. Each of the materials exhibits a level of piezoelectricity which increases with temperature. The remanent polarization is retained at temperatures close to the glass transition temperature of the polyimide.

Over the past several years interest in adaptive ‘smart'materials development has gained momentum. Smart structures utilize both polymeric sensors and lead-based piezo-ceramic actuators. This paper addresses the development of an alternative smart material which consists of a novel lead-free piezo-ceramic/PVDF hybrid composite, to be used as a single component system capable of performing multiple tasks. A lead-free controlled porosity perovskite ceramic of the type A2B2O7 (Sr2 (Nb.5Ta.5)2O7 was developed utilizing hot forging. Long, oriented grains along the x-y plane, perpendicular to the forging direction were obtained in the ceramics. PVDF was subsequently infiltrated into the porous piezo-ceramic resulting in a three dimensional architecture in which the piezo-ceramic is oriented perpendicular to the PVDF. It is anticipated that manufacturability combined with the ease of functional tailorability of such a class of lead-free hybrid materials can be useful in a variety of smart structures applications.

This work is related to designing, fabricating, and testing a surface acoustic wave sensor to be used for detecting metastable inert gases, particularly helium. The assembly consists of two microsensor configurations: (a) a reference device with no deposition at the delay line and (b) a sensing device with an Au-activated TiO2 e-beam-deposited thin film on the delay line. The interdigitated transducers and delay lines are fabricated by photolithography techniques on a single Y-cut LiNbo3 substrate oriented for Z-propagation of the acoustic waves. Variation in electrical conductivity of the Au-activated TiO2 film due to exposure to metastable He is translated as a frequency change in the assembly. Various characteristics of the surface acoustic microsensor have been studied to better understand and optimize the variation of acoustic wave velocity and the operating frequency of the microdevice. Methods for the TiO2 thin-film deposition are discussed.

The microstructure and the electrical properties of thermallyevaporated WO3 thin films have been investigated by glancing angle XRD, atomic force microscopy AFM, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy XPS and dc techniques. Thin films of 1500 Å thickness have been obtained by evaporating high purity WO3 powders by an electricallyheated crucible at 5 × 10−4 Pa on sapphire substrates. Theas-deposited films have resulted to be amorphous. After annealing at 500°C in dry air for 6, 12 and 24 hours the films have shown well crystallized structures with preferential orientations of WO3 in the (200)direction. The increase of the annealing time has shown marked influence onthe microstructural features of the films surface, as highlighted by AFM investigations. The binding energies of W 4f7/2 have been close to that of WO3, the 24 h annealed yielded an O/W ratio close to 2.9 which is in good agreement with the theoretical one. The gas sensitivity, selectivity and stability of the annealed films in presence of NO2 gas (between 0.7 and 5 ppm) have been evaluated by measuring the electrical change of the film resistance in dry air and in gasatmosphere conditions. The influence of NO and Humidity interfering gases to the NO2 electrical response has been also evaluated. The 500 °C annealed at 24 h has shown better electrical properties in terms of NO2 sensitivity, stability and cross sensitivity effects.

The present investigation deals with the electrical response of noble metal doped SnO2 to improve the selectivity for Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) in the presence of CO and CH4. Addition of small amounts of nobel metals (Pd, Pt and Rh) to the base material SnO2 is carried out by co-precipitation method. X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies are carried out to find out the crystalline phase and chemical composition of the SnO2. The sensor element has been tested for cross selectivity to reducing gases by measuring sensitivity versus sintering temperatures and sensitivity versus operating temperatures. The sensor elements with the composition of Pd (1.5 wt%) andPt (1.5 wt%) in the base material SnO2 sintered at 800°C showed high sensitivity towards LPG at an operating temperature of 350°C suggestingthe possibility to utilize the sensor for the detection of LPG.

Sol-gel processing was used to dope photochromic materials into metal alkoxide-polymer and pure polymer materials. The films on silicon and quartz substrates were examined, with and without UV irradiation, by UV/VIS spectroscopy, ellipsometry and FTIR.

The UV/VIS spectroscopy showed that the doped matrices were photochromic in the visible and near infrared.

The ellipsometric data were obtained with a variable angle of incidence spectroscopie ellipsometer (VASE). The Cauchy and a combined Cauchy-Lorentz model were used to fit the unirradiated and irradiated films, respectively. The optical constants of the films showed significant changes upon irradiation. This means that the absorption coefficient and hence the emissivity of the films is being modulated with UV irradiation. The VASE-fitted thicknesses of the films were in the range of 1 to 6 microns.

In the FTIR spectra, the spiropyran doped samples have shown IR transmission changes in the two spectral regions (6–7 μm and 7.5–8.5 μm) where changes are expected due to band opening. The transmission ratio for UV irradiated to unirradiated samples decreased by as much as about 24% at aparticular IR wavelength.

Magnetorheological (MR) fluids represent an exciting class ofsmart materials for use in active vibration control and other applications. This paper discusses some of the fundamental materials science concepts that define the scientific basis for designing MR fluids. Preliminary experimental data and observations concerning the synthesis as well as the rheological behavior of MR fluids based on carbonyl iron and iron oxide particulates are presented and discussed.

The use of shape-memory-alloy (SMA) fibres to actively changethe stiffness of a composite beam is investigated on a model system composed of an epoxy matrix with a series of embedded pre-strained NiTi fibres. Stiffness changes are detected through shifts in the natural vibration frequency of the beam. When electrically heated, the pre-strained NiTi fibres undergo a phase transformation. Since the shape recovery associated with the transformation is restrained by the constraints of both the matrix and the clamping device, a force is generated. This force leads to an increase in the natural vibration frequency of the composite beam. Depending on the degree of fibre pre-strain, either ordinary martensite, R-phase or a mixture of the two can be stress-induced. It is found that the R-phase gives rise to the largest change in vibration frequency for a given temperature increase and the most reversible behaviour. Its low transformation strain is also more favourable for fibre-matrix adhesion. The effect of stress relaxation in the polymer matrix on the composite response is discussed.

Various models and calculation methods for the description of shape memory behaviour have been developed in recent years by different research groups. Some of the models have already been extended towards the thermomechanical and functional behaviour of matrix materials with embedded SMA-wires. The basic concepts of a thermomechanical model which has found widespread use in the literature on smart materials, are critically reviewed.

A recently developed model based on a generalised thermodynamic analysis of the underlying martensitic transformation is discussed more into detail. Experimental verifications indicate that this thermodynamic model can be developed to an effective tool for the materials design of matrix materials with embedded SMA-wires.

This paper reviews recent work on the mechanical behavior of martensitic NiTi composites reinforced with 10–20 vol.% TiC particulates. The behavior of the composites is compared to that of unreinforced NiTi, so as to elucidate the effect of mismatch due to matrix transformation, thermal expansion, twinning or slip, in the presence of purely elastic particles. The twinning and subsequent thermal recovery of deformed composites, measured both macroscopically (by compressive testing and by dilatometry) and microscopically (by neutron diffraction), are summarized.

The thermomechanical behavior of TiNi shape memory alloy fiber reinforced 6061 aluminum matrix smart composite is investigated experimentally and analytically. The yield stress of the composite is observed to increase with prestrain given to the composite. Analytical model is developed by utilizing a shape memory alloy constitutive model of exponential type for the thermomechanical behavior of the composite. The model predicts that the composite yield stress increases with increasing prestrain, and the key parameters in affecting the composite yield stress are prestrain and matrix heat treatment. The model predicts reasonably well the experimental results of the enhanced composite yield stress.

Thermodynamics of an adaptive layer composite with a poldomain (polytwin) ferroelectric component is considered. It is shown that there are λ-singularities on the thickness dependencies of compliance and susceptibility at some critical thicknesses of the composite layers.

The deformation of adaptive composite with active polydomain components has been calculated by finite element modelling (FEM). The average deformation, the distribution of stresses and the elastic energy of the composite as a function of different extent of twinning of the composite active component are calculated. Comparing the results of the FEM with the results of the analytical theory demonstrates the effect of the microstresses on the mechanics of the adaptive composite.