Direct Write Assembly of Three-dimensional PZT Woodpile Structure

A novel kind of water based lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ink was developed. Woodpile structures with diameter of micrometer scale were constructed from this ink by using direct write assembly technique. According to the rheological test, the ink shows shear-thinning behavior. Micro-morphology and density test results show that the sintered samples have formed ceramics with high relative density. Measurement of X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows that the main phase of sintered samples is rhombohedral PbZr0.58Ti0.42O3. The value of piezoelectric constant d33 is meas- ured to be 410 pC/N, which shows that the sintered samples exhibit good piezoelectric property. The direct write as- sembly technique has merits of good designability, rapid forming capability and high precision prototyping, which provide new ideas and methods for the design and application of piezoelectric materials and devices.