Electric field analyses and optimization of multilayer ferroelectric ceramics

The lead zirconate titanate PbZr0.95Ti0.05O3(PZT95/5) ferroelectric ceramics are generally used in the explosive-electric transducer, as multilayer PZT95/5 thin films arrangement to realize high voltage output. However, the dielectric breakdown of the ceramics needs to be taken seriously. A quasi-static electric field model has been developed for voltage distribution analysis of multilayer PZT95/5 ceramics compressed by shock wave in the normal mode. The calculation results reveal that the electric potential difference of PZT95/5 films increases nonlinearly from ground electrode to output electrode. Since the thickness of ceramic materials has an effect upon dielectric strength, it is a suitable way to avoid device dielectric breakdown by designing carefully the nonuniform layout of PZT95/5 thin films. By using inequality restriction, anonuniform layout optimization of PZT95/5 films arrangement is obtained, which reduces the layer number to 19 and makes the voltage of each layer of PZT95/5 element being lower than its breakdown voltage.