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This paper reports on the ionizing radiation effects in lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT) with varied top electrode material and bias condition during radiation. A technique to characterize the piezoelectric performance of films unclamped from the substrate is described, and used to demonstrate the effects of radiation on the material's electromechanical behavior. Both platinum and iridium oxide top electrodes were examined, and iridium oxide appears to significantly mitigate radiation-induced damage that is observed in platinum top electrode samples. This mitigation of radiation damage is attributed to the reduced number of oxygen vacancies within the PZT films when an iridium oxide top electrode is used. Devices with applied bias during radiation were compared with devices under applied bias only. Applied bias appears to slightly enhance the electromechanical response in the negative bias polarity for irradiated platinum electrode samples suggesting that the bias can cause defects to orient and therefore improve electromechanical response. Ultimately, iridium oxide top electrodes appear to mitigate radiation damage.

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Phase pure perovskite (1-x)Bi1/2Na1/2TiO3 – xBi1/2K1/2TiO3 (BNKT) thin films were successfully prepared via an inverse mixing order chemical solution deposition method and the impact of process conditions on film properties were observed. Process conditions evaluated included crystallization temperature and time, ramp rate, pyrolysis temperature, and cation excess. Properties measured included crystal structure, dielectric constant, dielectric loss, piezoelectric response, and ferroelectric response. A few notable trends were observed. A subtle impact on piezoelectric response was observed in films prepared using different ramp rates: 100 C per second films (d33,f = 60 ± 5 pm/V at 1 kHz), 75 °C per second films (d33,f = 55 ± 5 pm/V) and 150 C per second films (d33,f = 50 ± 5 pm/V). Films prepared using a 75 °C per second ramp rate displayed slightly higher dielectric loss (tan δ = 0.09 at 1 kHz) than films prepared using a 100 °C per second ramp rate (tan δ = 0.07 at 1 kHz) or 150 °C per second ramp rate (tan δ = 0.05 at 1 kHz). Pyrolysis temperatures greater than 350 °C are necessary to burn off organics and maximize film dielectric constant. Dielectric constant increased from 450 ± 50 at 1 kHz to 600 ± 50 at 1 kHz by increasing pyrolysis temperature from 300 to 400 °C. Excess cation amounts (for compositional control) were also evaluated and it was found films with higher amounts of Na and K excess compared to bismuth excess displayed an increase in d33,f of about 10 pm/V compared to films prepared with equivalent Bi and Na and K excess amounts. Article highlights Impact of processing conditions on inverse mixing order chemical solution deposited bismuth based thin films. Dielectric, piezoelectric, and ferroelectric properties of thin film bismuth sodium titanate-bismuth potassium titanate thin films. Developing lead-free piezoelectric actuator materials.