Provided are a barium titanate-based piezoelectric ceramics having satisfactory piezoelectric performance and a satisfactory mechanical quality factor (Q.sub.m), and a piezoelectric element using the same. Specifically provided are a piezoelectric ceramics, including: crystal particles; and a grain boundary between the crystal particles, in which the crystal particles each include barium titanate having a perovskite-type structure and manganese at 0.04% by mass or more and 0.20% by mass or less in terms of a metal with respect to the barium titanate, and the grain boundary includes at least one compound selected from the group consisting of Ba.sub.4Ti.sub.12O.sub.27 and Ba.sub.6Ti.sub.17O.sub.40, and a piezoelectric element using the same.

There is provided a method for producing a liquid transport apparatus includes: a pressure chamber plate partially defining a pressure chamber that communicates with a nozzle for ejecting liquid; an insulating ceramics layer located on a surface of the pressure chamber plate to cover the pressure chamber; a piezoelectric layer located on the insulating ceramics layer; and a first electrode located on the piezoelectric layer. The method includes: forming the insulating ceramics layer on the pressure chamber plate by heating an insulating ceramic material; forming the piezoelectric layer and the first electrode on the insulating ceramics layer; forming the piezoelectric layer including annealing the piezoelectric layer at the annealing temperature; and forming the pressure chamber by removing a part of the pressure chamber plate so that a part of the insulating ceramics layer is exposed on the pressure chamber.

A piezoelectric device includes a first substrate that includes a piezoelectric element (32) provided in a first region where bending deformation is allowed and an electrode layer (39) electrically connected to the piezoelectric element (32), a second substrate in which a bump electrode (43) abutting and conducting the electrode layer (39), and having elasticity is formed, and which is disposed so as to face the piezoelectric element (32) with a predetermined space, and adhesive (43) that bonds the first substrate and the second substrate in a state where a distance between the first substrate and the second substrate is maintained. The adhesive (43) has a width in a center portion in a height direction relative to a surface of the first substrate or the second substrate greater than a width in end portions in the same direction.

A liquid election head including a silicon substrate and an element for generating energy that is utilized for electing a liquid on the silicon substrate, wherein a protective layer A containing a metal oxide is disposed on a first surface of the silicon substrate, a structure containing an organic resin and constituting part of a liquid flow passage is disposed on the protective layer A, and an intermediate layer A containing a silicon compound is disposed between the protective layer A and the structure.

The disclosure concerns an applicator (e.g. printhead) for applying a coating agent (e.g. paint) to a component (e.g. motor vehicle body component), having at least one nozzle row with a plurality of nozzles for dispensing the coating agent in the form of a jet in each case, the nozzles being arranged along the nozzle row and in a common nozzle plane, and having a plurality of actuators for controlled release or closure of the nozzles. The disclosure provides that the individual actuators each have an outer dimension along the nozzle row which is greater than a nozzle distance along the nozzle row.

A liquid discharge head comprising a silicon substrate; an insulating layer A formed on a first surface of the silicon substrate, a protective layer A that includes metal oxide and is formed on the insulating layer A, the structure that is formed on the protective layer A by direct contact with the protective layer A, includes organic resin, and forms a part of a flow path for liquid, and an element that is formed on a second surface of the silicon substrate on a side opposite to the first surface, and is configured to generate energy used for discharging the liquid.

A piezoelectric device includes a diaphragm, a piezoelectric actuator, and an orientation layer between the diaphragm and the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric actuator has a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode, with the first electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode on the diaphragm. The orientation layer is a stack of two or more tiers.

A liquid discharge head includes a nozzle plate, a substrate, a diaphragm, and a piezoelectric element. The nozzle plate includes a nozzle from which liquid is discharged. The substrate is disposed on the nozzle plate and includes a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle. The diaphragm is disposed on a first side of the substrate opposite a second side of the substrate on which the nozzle plate is disposed, the diaphragm constituting one wall of the pressure chamber. The piezoelectric element is disposed on the diaphragm to deform the diaphragm to discharge liquid in the pressure chamber from the nozzle. The piezoelectric element includes a first electrode, a piezoelectric film, and a second electrode. The first electrode is disposed on the diaphragm. The piezoelectric film is disposed on the first electrode.

A liquid ejection head includes a first substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first surface having a structure, a second substrate having a second surface facing the first surface of the first substrate, and a third substrate having a first surface facing the second surface of the first substrate. The first, second, and third substrates are joined together by an adhesive. The second surface of the first substrate has an opening located in a region on a rear side of the structure and having corners each having a curvature radius R2. The second surface of the second substrate has an opening in a region facing the structure and having corners each having a curvature radius R1. The curvature radii R1 and R2 satisfy R1<R2.

According to an example, a base, a diaphragm, and a driving element are provided. The driving element includes a first electrode disposed on a second surface of the diaphragm, a second electrode opposing the first electrode, and a piezoelectric body interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. In addition, an inter-wiring insulating film that covers the second surface of the diaphragm and the driving element, and an extracting electrode which is on the inter-wiring insulating film, are further provided. The inter-wiring insulating film includes a contact hole that exposes a part of the second electrode and through which the second electrode and the extracting electrode contact each other. The contact hole is disposed at a position which aligned with a solid portion of a circumferential wall of the pressure chamber in the base.