High piezoelectric sensitivity and related parameters of a novel lead-free 1–0–3 composite

ABSTRACT A piezoelectric performance of a novel 1–0–3 composite based on lead-free single crystals with 4mm symmetry is first analysed. Ferroelectric domain-engineered alkali niobate-tantalate based single crystals provide large values of the piezoelectric coefficients g*3j and g*h, squared figures of merit d*33 g*33 and d*h g*h, and a 0–3 matrix promotes a large piezoelectric anisotropy in specific volume-fraction ranges. An aspect-ratio effect concerned with spheroidal inclusions of a piezoelectric Li2B4O7 single crystal in a polymer medium is studied to show the considerable influence of these inclusions on the effective parameters of the composite. Values of g*33∼ 103 mV·m / N, g*h∼ (102–103) mV·m / N, d*33 g*33∼ 10−10 Pa−1, and d*h g*h∼ (10−11–10−10) Pa−1, and the large anisotropy of the piezoelectric coefficients d*3j and electromechanical coupling factors k*3j are achieved in the 1–0–3 composite based on a [001]-poled [Lix(K1-yNay)1-x](Nb1-zTaz)O3:Mn single crystal and make this composite suitable for piezoelectric sensor, energy-harvesting and hydroacoustic applications.