A composition for forming a Ce-doped PZT-based piezoelectric film contains: PZT-based precursors containing metal atoms configuring the composite metal oxides; a diol; and polyvinylpyrrolidone. The PZT-based precursors are contained so that a metal atom ratio (Pb:Ce:Zr:Ti) in the composition satisfies (1.00 to 1.28):(0.005 to 0.05):(0.40 to 0.55):(0.60 to 0.45) and the total of Zr and Ti in a metal atom ratio is 1. A concentration of the PZT-based precursor in 100 mass % of the composition is from 17 mass % to 35 mass % in terms of an oxide concentration, a rate of diol in 100 mass % of the composition is from 16 mass % to 56 mass %, and a molar ratio of polyvinylpyrrolidone to 1 mole of the PZT-based precursor is 0.01 moles to 0.25 moles in terms of monomers.

A hard lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramic has an ABO.sub.3 structure with A sites and B sites. The PZT ceramic is doped with Mn and with Nb on the B sites and the ratio Nb/Mn is <2. A piezoelectric multilayer component having such a PZT ceramic and also a method for producing a piezoelectric multilayer component are also disclosed.

A hard lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramic has an ABO.sub.3 structure with A sites and B sites. The PZT ceramic is doped with Mn and with Nb on the B sites and the ratio Nb/Mn is <2. A piezoelectric multilayer component having such a PZT ceramic and also a method for producing a piezoelectric multilayer component are also disclosed.

A process for manufacturing ceramic-metal composite material, comprises dissolving ceramic powder into water to obtain an aqueous solution of ceramic; mixing metal powder having a multimodal particle size where largest particle size is one fourth of the minimum dimension of a device, with the aqueous solution of ceramic to obtain a powder containing ceramic precipitated on the surface of metal particles; mixing the powder containing ceramic precipitated on the surface of the metal particles, with ceramic powder having a particle size below 50 m, to obtain a powder mixture; adding saturated aqueous solution of ceramic to the powder mixture to obtain an aqueous composition containing ceramic and metal; compressing the aqueous composition to form a disc of ceramic-metal composite material containing ceramic and metal; and removing water from the ceramic-metal composite material; wherein ceramic content of the disc is 10 vol-% to 35 vol-%. Alternatively, ceramic-ceramic composite material may be manufactured.

Embodiments of the invention can be directed to controlling and/or engineering the size and/or volume of polar nanoregions (PNRs) of ferroelectric polycrystalline material systems. Some embodiments can achieved this via composition modifications to cause changes in the PNRs and/or local structure. Some embodiments can be used to control and/or engineer dielectric, piezoelectric, and/or electromechanical properties of polycrystalline materials. Controlling and/or engineering the PNRs may facilitate improvements to the dielectric, piezoelectric, and/or electromechanical properties of materials. Controlling and/or engineering the PNRs may further facilitate generating a piezoelectric material that may be useful for many different piezoelectric applications.

Embodiments of the invention can be directed to controlling and/or engineering the size and/or volume of polar nanoregions (PNRs) of ferroelectric polycrystalline material systems. Some embodiments can achieved this via composition modifications to cause changes in the PNRs and/or local structure. Some embodiments can be used to control and/or engineer dielectric, piezoelectric, and/or electromechanical properties of polycrystalline materials. Controlling and/or engineering the PNRs may facilitate improvements to the dielectric, piezoelectric, and/or electromechanical properties of materials. Controlling and/or engineering the PNRs may further facilitate generating a piezoelectric material that may be useful for many different piezoelectric applications.

Disclosed is a focused ultrasonic piezoelectric actuator having a novel type of piezoelectric device for focusing ultrasonic waves. The focused ultrasonic piezoelectric actuator includes a dome-shaped piezoelectric body for focusing ultrasonic waves and a rim configured to facilitate focusing of ultrasonic waves of the body and injection of the dome-shaped piezoelectric body during a powder injection molding process, remove warpage of the dome-shaped body during a sintering process, and reinforce focusing intensity of the ultrasonic waves. The rim is integrally formed with the body. Accordingly, in the focused ultrasonic piezoelectric actuator, a dome-shaped focused ultrasonic piezoelectric actuator for focusing ultrasonic waves using a thickness vibration mode at a MHz frequency band is easily manufactured by a powder injection molding method, and thus an ultrasonic focusing effect is maximized.

Disclosed is a focused ultrasonic piezoelectric actuator having a novel type of piezoelectric device for focusing ultrasonic waves. The focused ultrasonic piezoelectric actuator includes a dome-shaped piezoelectric body for focusing ultrasonic waves and a rim configured to facilitate focusing of ultrasonic waves of the body and injection of the dome-shaped piezoelectric body during a powder injection molding process, remove warpage of the dome-shaped body during a sintering process, and reinforce focusing intensity of the ultrasonic waves. The rim is integrally formed with the body. Accordingly, in the focused ultrasonic piezoelectric actuator, a dome-shaped focused ultrasonic piezoelectric actuator for focusing ultrasonic waves using a thickness vibration mode at a MHz frequency band is easily manufactured by a powder injection molding method, and thus an ultrasonic focusing effect is maximized.

The present invention relates to a method for precipitation hardening of a piezoceramic and to a piezoceramic.

The present invention relates to a method for precipitation hardening of a piezoceramic and to a piezoceramic.