Method and system of fabricating PZT nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensor

1. A method of fabricating a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensor, the method comprising:

formulating a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) nanoparticle ink;

depositing the PZT nanoparticle ink onto a substrate via an ink deposition direct write printing process to form a PZT nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensor, the PZT nanoparticle ink not requiring a high temperature sintering/crystallization process once deposited; and,

coupling the PZT nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensor to a power and communication wire assembly formed of a conductive ink deposited onto the substrate via the ink deposition direct write printing process.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the PZT nanoparticle ink comprises nanoscale PZT particles.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the PZT nanoparticle ink comprises a sol-gel based adhesion promoter for promoting adhesion of the PZT nanoparticle ink to the substrate.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ink deposition process does not require PZT crystal growth on the substrate.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ink deposition direct write printing process is selected from a group comprising a jetted atomized deposition process, an ink jet printing process, an aerosol printing process, a pulsed laser evaporation process, a flexography printing process, a micro-spray printing process, a flat bed silk screen printing process, a rotary silk screen printing process, and a gravure printing process.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a material selected from a group comprising a composite material, a metallic material, and a combination of a composite material and a metallic material.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate has a curved surface.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the PZT nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensor is deposited onto the substrate in a customized shape.

9. A method of fabricating a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensor, the method comprising:

formulating a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) nanoparticle ink comprising pre-crystallized PZT nanoparticles;

suspending the PZT nanoparticle ink in a sol-gel based adhesion promoter;

depositing the PZT nanoparticle ink onto a substrate via a direct write printing process to form a PZT nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensor, the PZT nanoparticle ink not requiring a high temperature sintering/crystallization process once deposited; and,

coupling the PZT nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensor to a power and communication wire assembly formed of a conductive ink deposited onto the substrate via the direct write printing process.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the PZT nanoparticle ink comprises nanoscale PZT particles.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the direct write printing process does not require PZT crystal growth on the substrate.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the direct write printing process is a process selected from a group comprising selected from a group comprising a jetted atomized deposition process, an ink jet printing process, an aerosol printing process, a pulsed laser evaporation process, a flexography printing process, a micro-spray printing process, a flat bed silk screen printing process, a rotary silk screen printing process, and a gravure printing process.

13. A system for fabricating a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensor, the system comprising:

a formulated lead zirconate titanate (PZT) nanoparticle ink;

an ink deposition direct write printing apparatus depositing the PZT nanoparticle ink onto a substrate to form a PZT nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensor, the PZT nanoparticle ink not requiring a high temperature sintering/crystallization process once deposited; and,

a power and communication wire assembly coupled to the PZT nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensor and formed of a conductive ink deposited onto the substrate via the ink deposition direct write printing apparatus.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the PZT nanoparticle ink comprises nanoscale PZT particles.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the PZT nanoparticle ink comprises a sol-gel based adhesion promoter for promoting adhesion of the PZT nanoparticle ink to the surface of the substrate.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the ink deposition apparatus does not require PZT crystal growth on the surface of the substrate.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the ink deposition direct write printing apparatus is selected from a group comprising a jetted atomized deposition apparatus, an ink jet printing apparatus, an aerosol printing apparatus, a pulsed laser evaporation apparatus, a flexography printing apparatus, a micro-spray printing apparatus, a flat bed silk screen printing apparatus, a rotary silk screen printing process, and a gravure printing process.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the substrate comprises a material selected from a group comprising a composite material, a metallic material, and a combination of a composite material and a metallic material.

19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the substrate is curved.

20. The system of claim 13 , wherein the PZT nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensor is deposited onto the substrate in a customized shape.