DORIS: Development of relaxor based improved piezoelectric single crystals

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 99.0648

Key words (English)

Single crystals; piezoelectric; medical transducers; ultrasonic;
Economic Aspects; Environmental Protection; Industrial Manufacture; Innovation; Technology Transfer; Safety

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: G1RD-1999-00081

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.3.1 Innovative products, processes and organization

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

VERMON (F), FVB.IK (D), FEEDE (D), MTK (D), CEA.DTA.DEM (F)

Abstract (English)

Piezo ceramic materials have many applications due to their inherent efficiency. Particularly they can be used in medical and health applications for ultrasonic imaging and in fields requiring sensors, actuators or filters. During last decade, research to improve piezoelectric properties has been attempted with limited success because the intrinsic physical limits of such materials. Recently, some fundamental work in Japan and USA have demonstrated the feasibility and performance of perovskite-type single crystals containing lead oxide. Unfortunately, these crystals are difficult to grow by conventional methods, which will limit feasible manufacturing. However, because of their exceptional characteristics, the consortium proposes to investigate modified crystal growth technologies of leaded and environmentally friendly lead-free compounds and to validate the advantages of using such crystals.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 99.0648