IP Library Granted Patent US 12666875
Granted Patent B2
US 12666875 · App. 17/908,899 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Piezoelectric film, piezoelectric stack, piezoelectric element, and method for producing piezoelectric stack

Inventors: Toshiaki Kuroda (Hitachi, JP); Kenji Shibata (Hitachi, JP); Kazutoshi Watanabe (Hitachi, JP); Takeshi Kimura (Hitachi, JP)
Assignee: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
H10N30/8542C30B28/12C30B29/02C30B29/30C30B29/68H10N30/076
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12666875
App. No.
17/908,899
Filed
Sep 1, 2022
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2831
USPC
310/358
Abstract

There is provided a piezoelectric film, being a polycrystalline film comprised of potassium sodium niobate; containing at least one metal element selected from a group consisting of Cu and Mn; and having 1.0 or less ratio of a concentration B of the metal element at grain boundaries of crystals, with respect to a concentration A of the metal element in a matrix phase of the crystals.

Claims (37)

1 . A piezoelectric film, wherein the piezoelectric film is sputtered film comprising potassium sodium niobate and Mn;

the piezoelectric film is a polycrystalline film comprising a matrix phase and crystalline grains; and

a ratio of a concentration B of Mn at grain boundaries of the crystalline grains of the polycrystalline film, with respect to a concentration A of Mn in the matrix phase of the polycrystalline film is more than 0 and 1.0 or less.

2 . The piezoelectric film according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the concentration B, with respect to the concentration A, is more than 0 and 0.8 or less.

3 . The piezoelectric film according to claim 1 , wherein a total concentration of Mn in the matrix phase at the grain boundaries of the crystalline grains is 0.2 at % or more and 2.0 at % or less relative to an amount of niobium in the polycrystalline film.

4 . The piezoelectric film according to claim 1 , wherein the crystal grains have an average grain size of 100 nm or more.

5 . A piezoelectric stack, comprising:

a substrate;

an electrode film on the substrate; and

a piezoelectric film on the electrode film, the piezoelectric film being a sputtered film comprising of potassium sodium niobate and Mn,

wherein the piezoelectric film is a polycrystalline film comprising a matrix phase and crystalline grains;

80% or more of the crystalline grains of the piezoelectric film are oriented in (001) direction with respect to a surface of the substrate; and

a ratio of a concentration B of Mn at grain boundaries of the crystalline grains of the piezoelectric film, with respect to a concentration A of Mn in the matrix phase of the crystals, is more than 0 and 1.0 or less.

6 . A piezoelectric element, comprising:

a substrate;

a bottom electrode film provided on the substrate;

a piezoelectric film at the bottom electrode film, the piezoelectric film being a sputtered film comprising potassium sodium niobate and Mn; and

a top electrode film on the piezoelectric film,

wherein

the piezoelectric film is a polycrystalline film comprising a matrix phase and crystalline grains;

80% or more of the crystalline grains of the piezoelectric film are oriented in (001) direction with respect to a surface of the substrate; and

a ratio of a concentration B of Mn at grain boundaries of the crystalline grains of the piezoelectric film, with respect to a concentration A of Mn in the matrix phase of the crystals, is more than 0 and 1.0 or less.

7 . A method for producing a piezoelectric stack, comprising:

depositing an electrode film on a substrate; and

depositing by sputtering a piezoelectric film on the electrode film, wherein the piezoelectric film comprises potassium sodium niobate and Mn,

the piezoelectric film is a polycrystalline film comprising a matrix phase and crystalline grains;

80% or more of the crystalline grains of the piezoelectric film are oriented in (001) direction with respect to a surface of the substrate; and

the piezoelectric film has a concentration B of Mn at grain boundaries of the crystalline grains of the piezoelectric film, with respect to a concentration A of Mn in the matrix phase of the piezoelectric film.

8 . The piezoelectric stack according to claim 5 , wherein the ratio of the concentration B, with respect to the concentration A, is more than 0 and 0.8 or less.

9 . The piezoelectric stack according to claim 5 , wherein a total concentration of Mn in the matrix phase and at the grain boundaries of the crystalline grains is 0.2 at % or more and 2.0 at % or less relative to an amount of niobium in the polycrystalline film.

10 . The piezoelectric stack according to claim 5 , wherein the crystal grains have an average grain size of 100 nm or more.

11 . The piezoelectric element according to claim 6 , wherein the ratio of the concentration B, with respect to the concentration A, is more than 0 and 0.8 or less.

12 . The piezoelectric element according to claim 6 , wherein a total concentration of Mn in the matrix phase and at the grain boundaries of the crystalline grains is 0.2 at % or more and 2.0 at % or less relative to an amount of niobium in the polycrystalline film.

13 . The piezoelectric element according to claim 6 , wherein the crystal grains have an average grain size of 100 nm or more.

14 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the ratio of the concentration B, with respect to the concentration A, is more than 0 and 0.8 or less.

15 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein a total concentration of Mn in the matrix phase and at the grain boundaries of the crystalline grains is 0.2 at % or more and 2.0 at % or less relative to an amount of niobium in the polycrystalline film.

16 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the crystal grains have an average grain size of 100 nm or more.