IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,408,555
Granted Patent B2
US 12,408,555 · App. 17/057,715 · Granted Sep 2, 2025

Three-dimensional piezoelectric materials and uses thereof

Inventors: Xiaoyu Zheng (Blacksburg, VA); Huachen Cui (Blacksburg, VA); Ryan Hensleigh (Blacksburg, VA)
Assignee: VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
H10N30/852B33Y30/00B33Y70/00B33Y80/00H10N30/093H10N30/098B33Y10/00B33Y40/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,408,555
App. No.
17/057,715
Granted
Sep 2, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Described herein are aspects of a three-dimensional (3D) piezoelectric structure that can be composed of a 3D periodic microlattice that can be composed of a piezoelectric composite material, wherein the 3D periodic microlattice can include a plurality of interconnected 3D node units capable of generating a piezoelectric response upon application of a stress to the 3D periodic microlattice, and wherein the plurality of interconnected 3D node units can form a tailored piezoelectric tensor space. Also described herein are systems that can include one or more of the 3D piezoelectric structures described herein. Also described herein are methods of making and using the 3D piezoelectric structures described herein.

Claims (25)

1. A three-dimensional (3D) piezoelectric structure comprising:

a 3D periodic microlattice comprising a piezoelectric composite material, wherein the 3D periodic microlattice comprises a plurality of interconnected 3D node units capable of generating a piezoelectric response upon application of a stress to the 3D periodic microlattice, and wherein the plurality of interconnected 3D node units form a tailored piezoelectric tensor space,

wherein each 3D node unit of the plurality of interconnected 3D node units comprises struts that are arranged in 3D space and wherein at least one of the struts in a first 3D node unit is connected to a struct in a second 3D node unit so as to form an interconnected 3D node unit.

2. The 3D piezoelectric structure of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric composite material comprises: a plurality of functionalized piezoelectric particles crosslinked to a polymer matrix.

3. The 3D piezoelectric structure of claim 2 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises photosensitive monomers.

4. The 3D piezoelectric structure of claim 2 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of: polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA) a thermoset polymer, a thermoplastic polymer, and combinations thereof.

5. The 3D piezoelectric structure of claim 2 , wherein the functionalized piezoelectric particles comprise a piezoelectric particle and a functionalization moiety, wherein the functionalization moiety is covalently attached to the piezoelectric particle.

6. The 3D piezoelectric structure of claim 5 , wherein the piezoelectric particle is selected from the group consisting of: quartz, berlinite (AlPO 4 ), sodium potassium tartrate tetrahydrate, topaz, a tourmaline-group mineral, (PbTiO 3 ), langasite (La 3 Ga 5 SiO 14 ), gallium orthophosphate (GaPO 4 ), lithium niobite (LiNbO 3 ), lithium tantalite (LiTaO 3 ), barium titanate (BaTiO 3 ), lead zirconate titanate (PZT), potassium niobite (KNbO 3 ), sodium tungstate (Na 2 WO 3 ), Ba 2 NaNb 5 O 5 , Pb 2 KNb 5 O 15 , sodium potassium niobite (K,Na)NbO 3 ), bismuth ferrite (BiFeO 3 ), sodium niobite (NaNbO 3 ), bismuth titanate (Bi 4 Ti 3 O 12 ), sodium bismuth titanate (NaBi(TiO 3 ) 2 ), Zinc oxide (ZnO), niobite-lead titanate (PMN-PT), and combinations thereof.

7. The 3D piezoelectric structure of claim 6 , wherein the functionalization moiety is a moiety capable of forming hydroxyl groups on the nanoparticle surfaces to form covalent linkage with the polymer matrix.

8. The 3D piezoelectric structure of claim 7 , wherein the functionalization moiety is selected from the group consisting of: a moiety comprising an acrylate containing group, trimethyoxysilylpropyl methacrylate (TMSPM), trimethyoxysilylpropyl acrylate (TMSPA), and combinations thereof.

9. The 3D piezoelectric structure of claim 5 , wherein the functionalized piezoelectric particles are crosslinked to the polymer matrix via the functionalization moiety.

10. The three dimensional (3D) piezoelectric structure of claim 1 , wherein the 3D piezoelectric structure is manufactured using an additive manufacturing technique.

11. The 3D piezoelectric structure of claim 10 , wherein the additive manufacturing technique is a light-based additive manufacturing technique.

12. A system comprising:

one or more three dimensional (3D) piezoelectric structures as in claim 1 ; and

one or more electrodes, wherein the one or more electrodes are coupled to at least one of the one or more 3D piezoelectric structures.

13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising an electric current generator, wherein the electric current generator is coupled to at least one of the one or more 3D piezoelectric structures.

14. The system of claim 12 , further comprising an output sensor, wherein the electric output sensor is coupled to at least one of the one or more 3D piezoelectric structures and, wherein the output sensor is configured to receive an output signal from the one or more 3D piezoelectric structures.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the output signal is an electrical signal.

16. A method comprising:

applying a stress to a three dimensional (3D) piezoelectric structure of claim 1 ; and

generating a piezoelectric response to the applied stress, wherein the piezoelectric response is generated by the 3D piezoelectric structure as in claim 1 .

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the stress is an electrical current and the piezoelectric response is a mechanical response.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the stress is a mechanical force and the piezoelectric response is an electrical output.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the system comprises two or more three dimensional (3D) piezoelectric structures, wherein the two or more 3D structures are interconnected, wherein at least two of the 3D piezoelectric structures have different 3D microlattices, and wherein the at least two 3D piezoelectric structures having different 3D microlattices produce a different piezoelectric response upon application of a stress to the two or more interconnected 3D piezoelectric structures.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2024
From: VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY
To: VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 069599/0218 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 12, 2024
From: ZHENG, XIAOYU
To: VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 069561/0941 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2024
From: CUI, HUACHEN
To: VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 068858/0878 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 24, 2024
From: HENSLEIGH, RYAN
To: VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 068679/0940 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62676091 · May 24, 2018
Related Publication 20210234089A1 · Jul 29, 2021
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Cited By (1)
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