Electrical and optical properties of Lead Zirconate Titanate composite films used in flexible high temperature ultrasonic transducers.

Lead Zirconate Titanate composite (PZT-c) films deposited by a sol-gel spray technique typically used to fabricate high temperature flexible ultrasonic transducers (FUTs) were found to be absorbent to U.V. between 200 nm and approximately 450 nm before and after heat treatments at up to 650°C. Air dried PZT-c films were also found to exhibit a photochromic effect when exposed to U.V. light. These films are reported to be photoconductive before and after a drying and a heat treatment of 650°C. Thermal analyses show an increase in heat flow with illumination and a temperature dependent capacitance shift of about 100°C to lower temperature of the Curie temperature with illumination.