Dual-Piezo-Charge Strategy in (1-0)-3 Single-Crystal Composite for Enhancing Underwater Acoustic Sensing.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Acoustics
• Solid State Physics

Background:

• Conventional 1-3 piezocomposites for piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers (PUTs) have reached performance plateaus.
• Existing structures limit enhancements in acoustic sensitivity and the hydrostatic figure of merit (d_hg_h).

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel single-crystal piezocomposite (SCPC) with enhanced piezoelectric properties.
• To introduce a dual-piezo-charge (DPC) mechanism for improved performance in PUTs.
• To achieve significant increases in acoustic sensitivity and the hydrostatic figure of merit.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a (1-0)-3 SCPC using [011]-oriented Pb(In_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃-Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-PbTiO₃ (PIN-PMN-PT) single-crystal.
• Introduction of ordered, polar 0-phase microholes within 1-phase piezo-pillars to create a DPC effect.
• Utilizing simulations and experimental validation to assess performance.

Main Results:

• Achieved an ultrahigh d_hg_h of ~8089 × 10^-15 m² N^-1, a 443.2% increase over commercial 1-3 SCPC.
• Demonstrated a 890.6% improvement in d_hg_h compared to 1-3 piezoceramic composites.
• Significantly enhanced underwater acoustic sensitivity with a broad -3 dB bandwidth of 130 kHz.
• Verified operational stability through long-term testing.

Conclusions:

• The novel (1-0)-3 SCPC with DPC mechanism offers a significant advancement over conventional piezocomposites.
• This design approach enables next-generation PUTs with superior acoustic performance.
• The enhanced properties are crucial for applications in maritime safety and collision avoidance.