title: Converse piezoelectric effect induced transverse deflection of a free-standing ZnO microbelt.
abstract: We demonstrate the first electric field induced transverse deflection of a single-crystal, free-standing ZnO microbelt as a result of converse piezoelectric effect. For a microbelt growing along the c-axis, a shear stress in the a-c plane can be induced when an electric field E is applied along the a-axis of the wurtzite structure. As amplified by the large aspect ratio of the microbelt that grows along the c-axis, the strain localized near the root can be detected via the transverse deflection perpendicular to the ZnO microbelt. After an experimental approach was carefully designed and possible artifacts were ruled out, the experimentally observed degree of deflection of the microbelt agrees well with the theoretically expected result. The device demonstrated has potential applications as transverse actuators/sensors/switches and electric field induced mechanical deflectors.
authors.affiliation: School of Material Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0245, USA.
authors.forename: Youfan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Yifan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Srikanth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singamaneni
authors.forename: Vladimir V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Tsukruk
authors.forename: Zhong Lin
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D008422:Materials Testing / Q000295:instrumentation; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D015034:Zinc Oxide