3D printing of lead zirconate titanate piezoelectric ceramics via digital light processing (DLP)

Research of piezoelectric ceramics via DLP technology has drawn considerable interest due to its high geometrical flexibility. However, the poor curing properties limit the use of DLP technology to fabricate piezoelectric ceramics. Herein, we overcome this challenge in prepared lead zirconate titanate (PZT) piezoelectric ceramics via DLP technology by incorporating ultralow refractive index and ultraviolet light absorptivity of soluble starch in PZT ceramic slurry. After the post-process, the relative density of printed PZT ceramic with 20 vol% soluble starch could reach about 89.51% of theoretical density. The printed PZT ceramic exhibits remarkable dielectric permittivity, remnant polarization, piezoelectric strain constant, piezoelectric voltage constant, figure of merit and electromechanical coupling factor of 2196, 35.56 μC/cm2, 373 pC/N, 1.92 × 10−2 Vm/N, 7.16 × 10−12 m2/N and 42.28%, respectively. The results achieved in this research indicate that our work provides a promising route for fabrication of advanced ceramics with high performance and designed complex structures by digital light processing.