Method of making a piezoelectric device
A method of forming a piezoelectric device is disclosed. In one such method, a coating material is formed. The coating material has a piezoelectric precursor. The coating material is applied to a first electrode. The precursor is heated to a temperature that is above the Curie temperature of the precursor, but below the melting temperature of the precursor. While the precursor is above its Curie temperature, a voltage is applied across the precursor. While the voltage is applied across the precursor, the temperature of the precursor is reduced to below the Curie temperature.
1. A method of making a piezoelectric device, comprising:
forming a coating material having piezoelectric precursor;
applying the coating material to a first electrode;
applying a second electrode to the precursor;
heating the precursor to a temperature that is above the Curie temperature of the precursor, but below the melting temperature of the precursor;
applying a voltage across the precursor; and
reducing the temperature to below the Curie temperature while the voltage is applied.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the coating material includes a liquid carrier.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the carrier is a ketone solvent.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the carrier includes water.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the coating material is a solution.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the coating material is a dispersion.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric precursor is a polymer material.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the polymer material is PVDF.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric precursor is a co-polymer material.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the co-polymer material is PVDF-TrFE.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the precursor is a ceramic material.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the ceramic material is lead zirconium titanate.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the coating material is formed to a desired viscosity.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the coating material includes color bodies.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the coating material includes an adhesion promoting agent.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the second electrode occurs prior to heating the precursor material to above the Curie temperature.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the second electrode occurs after heating the precursor material to above the Curie temperature.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the voltage is applied via the first and second electrodes.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the voltage is applied by establishing a corona field.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the coating material is accomplished by spraying the coating material.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the coating material is accomplished by using a pen.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the coating material is accomplished by using a screen.