Optimization of conditions for AC plus DC poling above Curie temperature of barium titanate ceramic for piezoelectric property enhancement

Abstract

The effect of alternating current (AC) plus direct current (DC) poling conditions such as an AC field amplitude, an AC field frequency, an AC field cycle number, and poling temperature (T_p) on a piezoelectric constant (d₃₃) was investigated for barium titanate (BT) ceramics. It was found that the AC poling with an AC field amplitude (zero-peak value) of 35 kV/cm, a frequency of 0.1 Hz, an AC field cycle number of 5, T_p of 131 °C followed by 30 kV/cm DC poling and cooling with an application of a DC field of 15 kV/cm maximized the d₃₃ value to 328 pC/N. This result could be attributed to the reduced domain size of the ceramics.