A design optimization based on genetic algorithms for increasing power output performance of MEMS piezoelectric cantilevered energy harvesters has been performed. By employing genetic algorithms, the piezoelectric energy scavenging system with optimized shape and lateral geometries of a unimorph cantilever beam and a proof mass is simulated to achieve a power response improvement of ~1.8× in co...

An inkjet nozzle with double piezo transducers has been designed, which is different from conventional inkjet nozzles. The body of the nozzle which is fabricated by precision machining techniques is made from transparent acrylic material to visualize the flow inside the nozzle. The piezoelectric actuators are activated by a voltage amplifier which generates high-voltage bipolar waveforms. The k...

In this paper, a new lead-free piezoelectric (K,Na)NbO3 (KNN) film is presented as a promising, environment-friendly alternative to the conventional piezoelectric thin film materials like PZT, etc. with regard to applying into piezo-MEMS devices in general and micro-energy-harvesting devices in particular. The KNN films deposited by the RF magnetron sputtering deposition system were revealed ex...

As an outstanding member in the oxide nanowire family, ZnO nanowire is widely studied for its optical, semiconductive, and piezoelectric properties. PbZrxTi1–xO3 (PZT), usually in the form of polycrystalline thin films, is known for its high piezoelectric coefficient and is an ideal material as actuator. In this review, we first briefly introduce the rational growth of ZnO and PZT nanowire arra...

The underwater acoustic performance of three same-design ‘cymbal’ based electro-acoustic projectors are compared. Two of these projectors contain PMN-PT single crystal piezoelectric as the active material while the third utilizes conventional PZT-5H piezoelectric ceramic. The units containing the single crystal material show an improvement in the acoustic source level anywhere from 3 to 15 dB o...

Cement-based piezoelectric composite, has been widely used as a kind of smart material in structural health monitoring and active vibration control. However, transient dynamic loads such as impact loads may cause serious damage to the composite. Considering the electrode layer effect, this paper aimed to investigate the theoretical response of a 2-2 cement-based piezoelectric composite sensor s...

We present a mixed finite element formulation for flexoelectric nanostructures that is coupled with topology optimization to maximize their intrinsic material performance with regards to their energy conversion potential. Using Barium Titanate (BTO) as the model flexoelectric material, we demonstrate the significant enhancement in energy conversion that can be obtained using topology optimizati...

1. Abstract This paper addresses the problem of elastic and piezoelectric parameter estimation in active laminated structures with surface bonded sensors and actuators. The proposed technique is non destructive as the only experimental data it uses are natural frequencies of free vibration of the structure. Emphasis is placed on the influence on the estimated parameters of the adhesive material...

The use of bistable laminates is a potential approach to realize broadband piezoelectric based energy harvesting systems. In this paper the dynamic response of a piezoelectric material attached to a bistable laminate plate is examined based on the experimental generated voltage time series. The system was subjected to harmonic excitations and exhibited single-well and snap-through vibrations of...

and multiferroic [ 2 ] materials. For instance, ferroelectric materials at morphotropic phase boundaries (MPB), where multiple structural phases with ferroelectric polarizations pointing in different crystallographic directions coexist, often display large piezoelectric coeffi cients. [ 3– 5 ] It is the ferroelectric distortions, which accompany the polarization rotation that leads to enhanceme...