Project Description
Additive Manufacturing of Piezoelectric and Magnetostrictive Devices
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Zhangxian (Dan) Deng
Piezoelectric materials are a class of smart materials exhibiting significant mechanical deformation when subjected to an electric field. Typical piezoelectric materials investigated in Boise State’s Smart Materials and Systems Laboratory (SMSL) include lithium niobate, PZT, and P(VDF-trFE). Magnetostrictive materials exhibit deformation when exposed to magnetic fields. The SMSL has been working on additive manufacturing of magnetostrictive cobalt ferrite, iron-gallium, or Terfenol-D. The objective of this project is to utilize the well-established two-dimensional and three-dimensional additive manufacturing techniques to fabricate piezoelectric and magnetostrictive materials and devices. Potential applications include sensors to monitor structural health, actuators to stimulate human cell growth, and energy harvesters to scavenge electrical power from ambient vibration sources.
Role of Participant(s):
Participants will have the opportunity to learn state-of-the-art fast prototyping techniques including fused filament 3D printing and nScrypt micro dispensing. They will learn to use a scanning electron microscope (SEM), profilometer, and probe station to characterize topographical and electrical properties of printed two-dimensional materials. They will also learn to conduct vibration analysis by using an accelerometer, laser vibrometer, laser displacement sensor, and electromagnetic shaker. Besides hands-on experience, this project will provide programming and simulation experience for participants who prefer computational tasks. Participants will have the chance to learn NI LabVIEW, Matlab, and COMSOL Multiphysics. By using the aforementioned software, participants will improve their skills in data analysis, data visualization, and finite element modeling.