Review of Research on the Rare-Earth Doped Piezoelectric Materials

Abstract

The piezoelectric materials, such as ceramics, crystals, and films, have wide applications in the mechanical industry, medical imaging, electronic information, and ultrasonic devices, etc. Generally, adding oxide dopants, or introducing new solid solutions to form the morphotropic phase boundary of the piezoelectric materials were common strategies to enhance the electric properties. In recent decades, rare-earth elements doped piezoelectric materials have attracted much attention due to their multifunctional performances combining piezoelectric and photoluminescence properties, which has potential applications in ultrasonics, electronics, automatic control, machinery and optoelectronic fields. An overview of the recent investigations and perspectives on rare-earth doped piezoelectric ceramics, single crystals, and films were presented.

Dy3+doped (K,Na)NbO3-based multifunctional ceramics for achieving enhanced temperature-stable piezoelectricity and non-contact optical temperature sensing performance

“…1,2 In this booming field, rare earth doped ferroelectric materials are becoming a hotspot on account of their promising potential in future novel integrated optoelectronic devices combining both immanent ferro/piezoelectric properties and distinct photoluminescence (PL). [3][4][5][6] Owing to the relatively low phonon energy (∼860 cm −1 ) and environmental compatibility, lead-free piezo/ferroelectric ceramics can be a promising host for the luminescence of rare earth activators, enabling the possibility for wide optic-electric applications such as multifunctional sensors. [4][5][6][7][8] Among the versatile lead-free candidates, potass-ium-sodium niobate (KNN)-based ceramics are highlighted as one of the most prospective candidates due to the high Curie temperature and decent overall electromechanical properties.…”

“…[3][4][5][6] Owing to the relatively low phonon energy (∼860 cm −1 ) and environmental compatibility, lead-free piezo/ferroelectric ceramics can be a promising host for the luminescence of rare earth activators, enabling the possibility for wide optic-electric applications such as multifunctional sensors. [4][5][6][7][8] Among the versatile lead-free candidates, potass-ium-sodium niobate (KNN)-based ceramics are highlighted as one of the most prospective candidates due to the high Curie temperature and decent overall electromechanical properties. 2,7,9 Ultrahigh d 33 was obtained in KNN-based ceramics by constructing a rhombohedral-tetragonal R-T (or rhombohedral-orthorhombic-tetragonal, R-O-T) phase boundary through appropriate chemical doping.…”

“…10,24 Commonly, rare earth ions play an indispensable role as activators or sensitizers in enabling host materials with unique luminescence performance. [3][4][5][6]8 Because the rare earth ions have an incomplete 4f electron shell whose electrons are shielded by the 5s and 5p electrons in the outer layer, the rare earth elements exhibit stable spectral characteristics, which stimulate numerous explorations about the optical thermometers of rare earth ions. 6,8 Nevertheless, most of the previous work has focused on high temperature sensing properties based on luminescence intensity ratio (LIR) techniques.…”

“…[3][4][5][6]8 Because the rare earth ions have an incomplete 4f electron shell whose electrons are shielded by the 5s and 5p electrons in the outer layer, the rare earth elements exhibit stable spectral characteristics, which stimulate numerous explorations about the optical thermometers of rare earth ions. 6,8 Nevertheless, most of the previous work has focused on high temperature sensing properties based on luminescence intensity ratio (LIR) techniques. The low-temperature sensing properties of rare earth ions based on LIR technology have not been studied in detail.…”

Experimental Setup for Static Characterization of Stack-Type Piezoelectric Actuators

“…In the realization of active composite materials, the optimum is represented using materials that can have both a sensory and an actuating role [5]. The current trend is to obtain active composites based on piezoelectric [6] or electrostrictive materials [7], magnetostrictive [8], shape memory alloys [9], chemically controlled polymer gels [10], electroreological liquids [11], optical fibers [12] and other intelligent materials. Among these mentioned materials, the most widespread at present are composite materials based on the piezoelectric phenomenon.…”