Assembly of PZT fibre array composites by dielectrophoresis

• Main Authors: Wilson, S.A, Capria, E
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Composite materials (engineering materials science); Electrochemistry and electrophoresis; General fabrication techniques; Piezoelectric and ferroelectric materials; Piezoelectricity and electrostriction
• DOI: 10.1049/ic:20060464

An experimental technique for manipulation and assembly of composite materials and structures is described which uses dielectrophoretic forces to pick and place individual components on the micro-scale. This is an inherently low-temperature process which can be viewed as an enabling technique to assemble a large variety of hybrid structures and MEMS devices incorporating different materials and geometries. The new assembly process is a variation of the recently reported electric-field structuring or dielectrophoretic assembly technique. A voltage is applied between movable upper needle-like electrodes and a fixed bottom flat electrode, which are both immersed in a dielectric fluid. PZT fibres are exposed to the electric field and, under suitable conditions of field topology and frequency, they become polarised and they then exhibit a mutually attractive force. By moving the upper electrode through the calibrated holes of an array template, it is possible to drag individual fibres into a pre-determined spatial configuration. Once in situ the fibres can be fixed in place to form a composite array.