Energy transmission characteristic of PLZT bimorph

The mechanism of the photostrictive effect of lanthanum-modified lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) ceramics was researched. The theoretical analysis showed that photostriction was the superposition of photovoltaic and converse piezoelectric effects. The maximal deflexion and drive force of PLZT bimorph driver under ultraviolet illumination were attained from material dynamics analysis. PLZT bimorph deflexed to the maxima under irradiation when there was no mechanical load, whereas bimorph did not do work; part of the incident energy was wasted, and the other converted into electrical and mechanical energy and stored in the bimorph driver. The magnitude of work done by bimorph driver related to mechanical load. The exporting mechanical energy reached maximum when the load was half of the maximal drive force. The research can be applied to structural design for optical driver, making the whole system get maximal energy output.