Twin engineering to improve the switchability and rotatability of polarizations and domains in ferroelectric and piezoelectric materials

• Main Authors: Zhang, Tongyi, Cao, Shigu, Wu, Honghui
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 30.10.2018
• Subjects: ELECTRICITY

A method for forming deformation crystal twins in piezoelectric materials is disclosed. The method includes obtaining a crystalline piezoelectric material and deforming the crystalline piezoelectric material using a load. The method also includes heating the deformed crystalline piezoelectric material in an oxidative atmosphere to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time to form a plurality of deformation crystal twins in the crystalline piezoelectric material. The method also includes allowing the crystalline piezoelectric material to cool to room temperature, and removing the load that induces the deformation of the crystalline piezoelectric material. Additionally, the deformation of the crystalline piezoelectric material is achieved by at least one of the following: compressing, stretching, shearing, torsion, and bending of the crystalline piezoelectric material. Further, the shearing creates a shear plane that acts as a twin boundary, which separates a plurality of deformation crystal twins with non-uniform orientation.