Single Crystal Materials

Single Crystal Piezoelectrics at TRS

TRS holds exclusive license to patents by The Pennsylvania State University on single crystal piezoelectrics for use in actuator and transducer applications. TRS currently offers custom single crystal plates, disks, and rings. Typical finished crystal sizes range from 1 mm to 15 mm laterally and 0.1 mm to 2 mm in thickness, although other sizes can be made available depending on your needs and our current stock of rough crystals.

TRS is continually exploring new crystal growth methods and new crystal formulations to provide the largest crystals and the best properties possible. Low cost, high volume growth methods are also in development, including both traditional growth methods and novel templating techniques.

Due to the nature of single crystal piezoelectrics, the replacement of conventional piezoceramics in existing devices is not always straightforward. Scientists at TRS are familiar with the design considerations for piezoelectric actuators and transducers and can help you best utilize these new materials in your applications.

Single crystal stack actuators are currently under development at TRS.

Click here for more information about or Single Crystal Piezoelectric Components

Single Crystal Piezoelectrics

TRS' new single crystal piezoelectrics possess exceptional properties and are poised to revolutionize piezoelectric materials applications. In addition to strain levels exceeding 1% (usable strain: 0.5% at 35 kV/cm), TRS crystals exhibit five times the strain energy density of conventional piezoceramics. Thus, unlike piezoceramic actuators that employ strain magnification schemes, single crystal actuators can deliver higher strain levels without sacrificing generative force. The high electromechanical coupling of TRS crystals (>90%) increases transducer bandwidth, resulting in greater sensitivity and acoustic power. In addition, low strain hysteresis results in improved high power efficiency, and lower acoustic impedance than piezoceramics allows for easier matching to air or water. High coupling also leads to dramatic improvement in passive vibration damping.

Typical Properties

Property PMN-32%PT Free K3 8000 Clamped K3 3000 Loss <0.01 Tc (?C) 166 Pr (pC/cm2) 26 Ec (kV/cm) 3.2 d33 (pC/N) 1800-2000 d31 (pC/N) -1000 k33 0.91 k31 -0.51 kp N/A kt 0.62 N33 (Hz-m) 599 N31 (Hz-m) 721 Np (Hz-m) N/A Nt (Hz-m) 2002 s33 (10-11 m2/N) 8.65 s11 (10-11 m2/N) 5.97 s12 (10-11 m2/N) -0.77 s13 (10-11 m2/N -4.53 c33 (GPa) 129 c11 (GPa) 114 c12 (GPa) 100 c13 (GPa) 112

PMN-PT, 40mm diameter single crystal boule

Standard piezoelectric single crystals are cut oriented <001> for d₃₃ type applications. Additional crystal cuts are available with optimal properties for specific applications.

The following data sheets are available for download:

Data sheets can be viewed using the free Acrobat® Reader.