Enhancement of piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties of composite films using polymer electrolyte matrix

Abstract

Composite films consisting of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) inclusions dispersed in a matrix of polymer electrolyte the polyethylene oxide were fabricated. Their piezoelectric coefficients d₃₃ and pyroelectric coefficients p are increased almost proportional to the volume fraction of the ferroelectric ceramic phase. For 34% PZT composite, d₃₃ and p are 170 pC/N and 120 μC/m² K, respectively, they are much larger than PZT/polyvinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene composite with similar ceramics content. It is believed that the enhancement of the measured coefficients is due to the relatively high electrical conductivity of polymer electrolyte matrix. This is confirmed by theoretical models which consider the conductivity of matrix.