Dr.

Pranab Mandal
Assistant Professor, Department of Physics
SRM University-AP, Andhra Pradesh
Neerukonda, Guntur(Dt), AP – 522508
Contact No: 9851406353
E-mail: pranab.m@srmap.edu.in

Ref: Evaluation of intrinsic piezoelectric coefficients and strain engineering near the morphotropic
phase boundary in Pb-free oxides ECR/2018/001252

The proposed project aims to develop Pb-free ceramic oxide materials by strain engineering at the
morphotropic phase boundary for piezoceramic applications. Lead zirconate titanate (PbZr1-xTixO₃ or
PZT) exhibits excellent electromechanical properties near the morphotropic phase boundary (x =0.48)
and is the leading material used for nearly all piezoelectric actuators and sensors related applications.
However, Pb-toxicity has raised environmental concerns, and a relatively low Curie temperature (T =
390 °C) fails to cater to higher temperature applications such as gas turbines, jet engines, power
plants. The proposed work will focus on designing a tetragonal phase of A-site bismuth-rich perovskite
oxide, and then form a PZT-like morphotropic phase boundary. Further, strain engineering near the
morphotropic phase boundary guided by Rayleigh analysis would aim to achieve Pb-free materials
with large intrinsic piezoelectric response and higher Curie temperature. The Pb-free piezoceramics
developed here would aim to join the family of Pb-free materials for suitable commercial applications.