On laminated composite plates with integrated sensors and actuators

Many electroactive functional materials have been used in small- and microscale transducers and precision mechatronic control systems for years. It was not until the mid-1980s that scientists started integrating electroactive materials with large-scale structures as in situ sensors and/or actuators, thus introducing the concept of smart materials, smart structures, and structronic systems. This paper provides an overview of present smart materials and their sensor/actuator/structure applications. Fundamental multifield optomagnetopiezoelectric-thermoelastic behaviors and novel transducer technologies applied to complex multifield problems involving elastic, electric, temperature, magnetic, light, and other interactions are emphasized. Material histories, characteristics, material varieties, limitations, sensor/actuator/structure applications, and so forth of piezoelectrics, shape-memory materials, electro- and magnetostrictive materials, electro- and magnetorheological fluids, polyelectrolyte gel...

/pdf/smart-materials-precision-sensors-actuators-smart-structures-3hptk357z8.pdf

Smart Materials, Precision Sensors/Actuators, Smart Structures, and Structronic Systems

As a coupling effect of pyroelectric and photoelectric effect, pyro-phototronic effect has demonstrated an excellent tuning role for fast response p–n junction photodetectors (PDs). Here, a comprehensive pyro-phototronic effect is utilized to design and fabricate a self-powered and flexible ultraviolet PD based on the ZnO/Ag Schottky junction. By using the primary pyroelectric effect, the maximal transient photoresponsivity of the self-powered PDs can reach up to 1.25 mA W−1 for 325 nm illumination, which is improved by 1465% relative to that obtained from the steady-state signal. The relative persistent secondary pyroelectric effect weakens the height of Schottky barrier, leading to a reduction of the steady-state photocurrent with an increase in the power density. When the power density is large enough, the steady-state photocurrent turns into a reverse direction. The corresponding tuning mechanisms of the comprehensive pyro-phototronic effect on transient and steady-state photocurrent are revealed based on the bandgap diagrams. The results may help us to further clarify the mechanism of the pyro-phototronic effect on the photocurrent and also provide a potential way to optimize the performance of self-powered PDs.

R. Ye

Papers

Pyroelectric and thermal strain effects of piezoelectric (pvdf and pzt) devices