The main objective of the thesis „Electronic noise temperature dependence of piezoceramic sensors“ is to design the measuring set-up for the measurement of the piezoceramic sensor noise temperature dependence. The application for the control of the measurement process is realized. The theoretic chapter is focused on the properties of materials for the production of piezoceramic sensors. The basic effects related to the piezoceramic properties and the material structure is described in this part. Next chapter is focused on the technology of production of used piezoceramic. The properties of solid solutions as PbZrO3 – PbTiO3, and the non-destructive methods of the material testing are discussed. Our attention is concentrated to methods of acoustic emission. The next chapter is concerned on the realization of the measuring set-up and program equipment. The tested sample is the acoustic emission sensor made of piezoceramic material PCM-51. It is placed in the cylinder chest which is heated by the DC current source. The temperature measurement is realized by the data acquisition switch unit. The results of measurements are saved in PC and they are analyzed using MATLAB program. As a result we receive the frequency spectra of the electric noise voltage spectral density SU. The temperature dependencies of resonant peak value and frequency are determined from these spectra.

The master’s thesis deals with the proposal of microactuator based on SMART material. The thesis opens with the comparison of SMART materials which are suitable for actuator construction from the point of view of a reaction on stimulation in form of deformation. Subsequent part of the thesis is the report theory of piezoelectric effect, it also describes direct and indirect effects and it concerns about the description of piezoelectric materials. The thesis focuses on several principles of piezoactuators and motors. The last part of the thesis includes modeling and simulation of piezoelectric material in program ANSYS 13.0 and dimensioning geometric of actuator with evaluation of impact of parameters on final motion.

The first chapter introduces the basic principles governing the phenomenon like ferroelectricity, piezoelectricity and pyroelectricity, which influences the material properties for its device applications. An effort is made to examine the present status of material issues, measurement techniques and applications pertaining to the lead based PZT type systems. This chapter also highlights the objectives and the scope of work. The second chapter deals with the various basic experimental techniques and principles adopted for the synthesis and characterizations of materials which include phase and quantitative analysis by X-ray diffraction, density measurements, microstructures by scanning electron microscopy, electrical properties such as dielectric permittivity, dielectric loss, and piezoelectricity by impedance analyzer and piezometer etc. The materials were synthesized via two step solid state reaction by adopting a low temperature calcinations route. Further, hot processing was employed for densification and better control of microstructure of the ceramics. In the third chapter PZT1-x –PZNx (x=0, 0.1, 0.2 & 0.3) compositions prepared by the single step low temperature calcination method have been described. It is seen that the pyrochlore free perovskite phase could be obtained up to x=0.2 compositions. The effect of additives like Li and Mn on the structure, sinterability, microstructure, density and dielectric properties has been investigated. The improvement in densification and ferroelectric properties were observed for Li addition favor tetragonal phase while Mn addition compositions were inclined to pseudocubic phase. Further, the addition of Mn led to the significant decrease in Tc than the parent compositions compared to Li added compositions. In the fourth chapter, the X-ray diffraction data on pbzrx Ti1-x O3 (PZT) for x=0.48 to 0.52 are presented. High resolution x-ray studies for composition x=0.5 show the MPB which consists of monoclinic Zr rich studies and tetragonal Ti rich phase at room temperature. The refined structural parameters for MPB compositions have been obtained using least square Rietveld refinement program, FULLPROF 2006. The evolutions of lattice parameters of the system were also studied with respect to the temperature. The phase transformation in the system has been analyzed by x-ray diffraction pattern and dielectric measurements. The monoclinic phase transforms to tetragonal phase at 270oC after which the tetragonal phase transforms to paraelectric cubic phase at 370DoC. Dielectric properties show signature of the phase transformation. Hence, it is concluded to pole the MPB samples below 270o C to gain the advantage of increased ease of polarization reorientation for monoclinic phase. The fifth chapter deals with the systematic structural investigation on PZT1-y-PNZy (PZT-PNZ) and PZT1-y-PMNy (PZT-PMN) systems. In this chapter, an effort has been made to determine quantitatively the MPB phase contents and variation in Zr/Ti ratio of PZT-PZN and PZT-PMN systems. High resolution XRD data has been used for quantitative phase analysis using FULLPROF 2006. The correlation between the width of MPB and grain size has also been discussed for these systems. It is found that the addition of PMN and PZN to PZT system shifts the MPB towards pbZrO3 (PZ). The MPB can be regained by tuning the Zr/Ti ratio in the system. Further, there exists an inverse relation between the grain size and coexistence region in the system. It is seen that the MPB range is from x=0.48 to 0.58 and x=0.44 to 0.58 for 10% and 20% PZN concentration respectively. Similar trend has been obtained for the PZT-PMN system. The MPB ranges from x=0.46 to 0.53 and x=0.42 to 0.50 for 10% and 20% PMN respectively. The broadening of coexistence width is attributed to the lower grain size of our samples synthesized by adopting low temperature calcinations route. The sixth chapter deals with the hot pressing technique employed (adopting low temperature calcinations) for the synthesis of various PZT-PMN compositions with an intention of obtaining highly dense piezoceramics with fine, homogeneous and uniform microstructure. It also describes the dielectric, pyroelecrtic and pi ezoelectric properties were enhanced by hot processing technique. Li and Mn addition further improved the properties of the system. The seventh chapter investigates various nominal compositions of PZT-(Li, Nb) compositions based on certain assumptions. The attempt was made to introduce Li at A site and B site of ABO3 perovskite lattice. The ball milled, calcined powders were densified at<1000oC using hot pressing technique to prevent Li and Pb loss. High density ceramics have been studied for structural, dielectric, piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties. Through the clear cut evidence for the identification of Li site in the PZT system could not be established but the system which were synthesized under the assumption that Li substitutes A-site of the perovskite, favored the tetragonal phase and led to the enhancement in the dielectric, pyroelectric and piezoelectric properties. Further, their transition temperature was higher compared to the compositions where Li was tried to substitute B-site, which makes them promising candidates for transducer applications. The key finding in this thesis has been carried out by the candidate as part of the ph. D. programme. She hopes that this would constitute a worthwhile contribution towards the understanding of the behavior of lead based perovskites and in tailoring the properties of these ceramics towards device applications by the introduction of suitable additives in the system.

The master’s thesis deals with the piezoelectric coefficients, the resonance frequency and especially the piezoelectric constants verification. With the assistance of several devices, for instance LCR-meter HIOKI 3532, impedance analyzer Agilent 4294A and LCR-meter Agilent E4980A, the resonance and the anti-resonance frequencies as well as impedance and capacitance of samples are measured. The paper opens with the theory of the piezoelectric phenomenon and the difference between direct and indirect piezoelectric phenomenon, it also describes the basic behaviour of a piezoelectric ceramic element during mechanical straining or applied voltage. Further, the paper concerns the description of various piezoelectric constants and their calculations. Subsequent part of the paper is devoted to the temperature dependence of the main piezoelectric parameters of PZT ceramics. The materials coefficients are delineated as a function of temperature of the piezoelectric charge coefficients dij, relative permittivity r, electromechanical coupling factor kij and frequency constants Ni. One of the chapters also determines the piezoelectric charge constant d33 of PZT ceramics by laser interferometer and compares it with the value measured by resonance methods. The surface displacement was measured by a single-beam interferometer Polytec OFV-5000. The results of measurements of piezoelectric charge coefficients d33 acquired by the first and the second method are identical. The last section of the paper is focused on different methods of experimental studies on the characteristics of heat transfer by diffusing heat through conduction between the silver-plated surface of cylinder made of PZT ceramics. The effect on the resonance and the anti-resonance frequencies is monitored. There after, the real heat, determined by thermo camera and the physical model of heat transfer created in program COMSOL Multiphysics, is analysed.

The doctoral thesis discusses the measurement of parameters of piezoelectric (PZT) materials and the influence of temperature on their stability. In the introductory sections, the author briefly explains the piezoelectric effect and its use; simultaneously, methods for the preparation of piezoelectric materials and the measurement of their properties are presented to illustrate the analyzed problem. The experimental part of the thesis describes the procedure of measuring and calculating the complete matrix of material coefficients from samples of PZT ceramics. The applied set of piezoelectric samples complying with relevant European and world standards was made in the form of thin plates, thin discs and cylinders, via gradual modification of the large disc. The NCE51 and/or the older PCM51 ceramics obtained from the company Noliac Ceramics were used in determining the complete matrix and describing the measurement method. Both these types are soft piezoceramics composed from a solid solution of lead zirconate and lead titanate with the general chemical formula of Pb(Zr1-x,Tix)O3. The real crystallographic structure and chemical composition of the samples were confirmed by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), respectively. The frequency method was used for the measurement and calculation of all material coefficients. An Agilent 4294A impedance analyzer and a set of measuring tweezers marketed as “Tweezers Contact Test Fixture 16334A” were used in the process. Fast determination of the entire matrix of coefficients without any special requirement for the preparation of the samples to be measured was tested and verified. The charge coefficients of the piezoelectric material were confirmed by direct methods including the laser interferometer technique, the vibrometric method, and the procedure utilizing changes of the force applied to the sample. The advantages and disadvantages of the methods were compared and defined based on measurements and their results. The main part of thesis was focused on the behavior of piezoelectric material at high temperatures near the Curie point. Depolarization performed by means of a high temperature approaching the Curie point constitutes a significant yet hardly measurable material property of PZT ceramics. Commonly available vibrometric methods (d33-meters) do not appear to be suitable for the measurement of temperature dependencies, and for that reason the frequency technique was used. The piezoelectric charge coefficient, whose value can be effectively measured via the above-discussed frequency method, was selected as the indicator showing the depolarization state in the applied piezoelectric ceramics. The accuracy of the procedure was verified via comparison of the vibrometric method in cylinders of the NCE51 ceramics with different sizes, which are designed for the longitudinal length mode. The result is an optimized measurement methodology which facilitates accurate determination of the Curie temperature, namely phase transition to the cubic crystallographic structure. The experiment also proved the applicability of progressive, controlled depolarization of PZT ceramics via high temperature, and it also enabled us to define the temperature limits at which there occur irreversible changes of the piezoelectric properties of piezoceramics. In the measured NCE51 and PCM51 materials, the limit for the irreversible changes was equal to 95% of the Curie temperature.

A commercial non-contact atomic force microscope was improved to achieve utmost resolution on a routine basis. This system was used to study the (110) surface of rutile titanium dioxide. The focus was on understanding contrast formation in terms of tip-sample interaction mechanisms. Moreover, chromium and antimony-doped titanium dioxide was investigated. The implications of transition-metal doping on the surface structure of this highly interesting photocatalyst was studied at the atomic scale.

This master's thesis describes functionality and principle of the Hefaistos measurement system, which is fully automated and modular. Its purpose is to measure frequency responses of materials and its temperature dependence. The thesis describes all the necessary parts of the modular measurement system. Main part of this system is the control application programmed in LabVIEW software environment. Another necessary parts are impedance analyzers for acquiring frequency dependencies and heating chambers for heating measured materials. The control application ensures hardware synchronization between impedance analyzers and heating chambers. Together they create the Hefaistos system. Modularity of the system means that a user may choose which instrument combination will be used. The system offers choice between three impedance analyzers Agilent 4294A, Wayne Kerr 6520B and HIOKI 3532 LCR Hi-Tester and two heating chambers AOIP GEMINI 700 LRI and AOIP HYPERION. Possibilities of the Hefaistos system are demonstrated on the results of an example measurement.

The ability of physics to provide an understanding of our Universe lies in the essential interrelation between experiment and theory. But physics does not provide us only reliable representations of the causes acting in nature. Its powerful experimental devices and theoretical methods are the underlying reason of the explosive technological development of our time. LiNbO3 and LiTaO3 represent only one example of the essential impact of both experimental and theoretical investigations on their technological applications. Particularly, LiNbO3 has been the subject of many experimental studies due to its applications in electro-optic and integrated optical devices. Also, the doped LiNbO3 with rare-earth and transition metals could be used, for instance, as a material for tunable lasers. The previous theoretical studies devoted to LiNbO3 and LiTaO3 focused on their electronic structure, being an attempt to understand the microscopic origin of the paraelectric-to-ferroelectric phase transition of these materials. The ab initio lattice dynamics investigations performed so far were mainly aimed to identify the role of the individual atoms vibrations in the energetic of the phase transition. The lack of a reliable model for the zone-center lattice dynamics in these compounds motivated us to investigate this issue by means of ab initio frozen-phonon calculations. On the background of the obtained phonon frequencies and eigenvectors, we unambiguously identified all zone-center modes for LiNbO3 and the A1 ones for LiTaO3. Due to the above mentioned enlargement of the technological applications of LiNbO3 by doping with various ions, we focused on the analysis of the ground-state properties of this material when doped with Fe and Cr. Even if the theoretical approach used in our calculations is not predictive with respect to the optical properties of the physical systems in study, a certain insight on this problem could be gained from the analysis of the effect of the atomic positions relaxation on the impurities energy levels localized in the optical band gap.

This work is dedicated to a comprehensive experimental study on the interaction of femtosecond laser pulses with the nonlinear optical medium lithium niobate. The nonlinear optical response in the nanosecond regime was already studied extensively with a variety of techniques, whereas femtosecond pulses were mainly used in transient absorption or transient grating experiments. Naturally, the temporal resolution of these measurements depends on the pulse duration, however, dynamics during the pulse excitation were barely investigated. The motivation of this work is to widen the limits of femtosecond spectroscopy, not only to temporally resolve faster nonlinear optical processes, but further to show a sensitivity to other coupling mechanisms between the pulses and the material. Especially, the role of transient, dynamic holographic gratings is investigated with a careful determination of the pulse duration, bandwidth and frequency chirp. A basis of this work is established in the first part by studying the material response via light-induced absorption before focusing on the main topic, the pulse interaction with elementary (holographic) gratings, both self-induced and static, in the second part. By this detailed study, several features of femtosecond laser pulses, holographic gratings and the ultrafast material response can be revealed: (i) grating recording is feasible even with pulses of different frequencies, provided that their pulse duration is sufficiently short, (ii) grating based pulse coupling causes a pronounced energy transfer even in a common pump-probe setup for transient absorption measurements with (non-)degenerated frequencies, (iii) beyond expectation, oscillations in the phonon frequency range become apparent in different measurements. The presented results point towards appropriate future experiments to obtain a more consistent, microscopic model for the ultrafast response of the crystal, involving the interplay between photo-generated polarons, self-induced gratings, and phonons.

The present work broaches the physics of light-matter interaction, chiefly using nonlinear optical spectroscopy in a newly developed framework termed as Photon Management Concept. This way, existing fragments dealing with specific properties of harmonic and upconversion nanoparticles (HNPs/UCNPs) are consolidated into a full and coherent picture with the primary goal of understanding the underlying physical processes and their impact on the application side, especially in terms of imaging techniques, via suitable experimental and numerical studies. Contemporary optical setups involving contrast-enhancing agents are frequently limited in their excitation and detection configurations owing to a specialization to a select number of markers. As a result, the bandwidth of experimental methods and specimens that may be investigated is severely restricted in a large number of state-of-the-art setups. Here, an alternative approach involving HNPs and UCNPs, respectively, is presented providing an overview from their synthesis to optical characterization and to potential fields of application. Based on their inherent flexibility based on their nonlinear optical response, especially in terms of wavelength and intensity tunability, the PMC alleviates prevalent limitations by dynamically adapting the setup to a sample instead of the preliminary culling to a reduced number of eligible specimens that must not change their optical properties significantly during investigation. The use of HNPs supersedes such concerns due to their nearly instantaneously generated, strongly anti-Stokes shifted, coherent emission capable of producing radiation throughout the visible spectral range, including infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths. This way, HNPs transcend the traditional field of imaging and introduces potential applications in optomanipulation or holographic techniques. Thorough (nonlinear) optical characterization of UCNPs and alkali niobate HNP ensembles is performed to assess the fundamental physical mechanisms interwoven with numerical studies leading to their wide-ranging applicability. Final remarks show that HNPs are ideal candidates for realization of the PMC and yet hold an even further potential beyond current prospects.