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. 2021 Jan 12;21(2):483.
doi: 10.3390/s21020483.

Biologically Compatible Lead-Free Piezoelectric Composite for Acoustophoresis Based Particle Manipulation Techniques

Tomas Janusas  1 , Sigita Urbaite  1 , Arvydas Palevicius  1 , Sohrab Nasiri  1 , Giedrius Janusas  1
Affiliations

Biologically Compatible Lead-Free Piezoelectric Composite for Acoustophoresis Based Particle Manipulation Techniques

Tomas Janusas et al. Sensors (Basel). .

Abstract

This research paper is concentrated on the design of biologically compatible lead-free piezoelectric composites which may eventually replace traditional lead zirconium titanate (PZT) in micromechanical fluidics, the predominantly used ferroelectric material today. Thus, a lead-free barium-calcium zirconate titanate (BCZT) composite was synthesized, its crystalline structure and size, surface morphology, chemical, and piezoelectric properties were analyzed, together with the investigations done in variation of composite thin film thickness and its effect on the element properties. Four elements with different thicknesses of BCZT layers were fabricated and investigated in order to design a functional acoustophoresis micromechanical fluidic element, based on bulk acoustic generation for particle control technologies. Main methods used in this research were as follows: FTIR and XRD for evaluation of chemical and phase composition; SEM-for surface morphology; wettability measurements were used for surface free energy evaluation; a laser triangular sensing system-for evaluation of piezoelectric properties. XRD results allowed calculating the average crystallite size, which was 65.68 Å3 confirming the formation of BCZT nanoparticles. SEM micrographs results showed that BCZT thin films have some porosities on the surface with grain size ranging from 0.2 to 7.2 µm. Measurements of wettability showed that thin film surfaces are partially wetting and hydrophilic, with high degree of wettability and strong solid/liquid interactions for liquids. The critical surface tension was calculated in the range from 20.05 to 27.20 mN/m. Finally, investigations of piezoelectric properties showed significant results of lead-free piezoelectric composite, i.e., under 5 N force impulse thin films generated from 76 mV up to 782 mV voltages. Moreover, an experimental analysis showed that a designed lead-free BCZT element creates bulk acoustic waves and allows manipulating bio particles in this fluidic system.

Keywords: BCZT; bulk acoustic waves; lead-free; microchannel; particle manipulation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
General fabrication scheme for formation of BCZT based elements.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Scheme of (a) sandwich panel of BCZT composite based on element and (b) four fabricated samples using different screen printing meshes.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Experimental setup for contact angle measurement of hydrophobic and hydrophilic material consists of (1) drop on specimen, (2) analyzed coating, (3) specimen, (4) double convex lenses, (5) Guppy F–503 B&W CMOS Camera, (6) computer system for analyzing captured image.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Experimental setup for dynamic and electric characterization of samples: (1) Sensor Head Spot Type Keyence LK–H050, (2) Controller Keyence LK–HD500, (3) sample, (4) PicoScope 2205A, (5) monitor.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Set-up picture (a) and operation scheme (b) of the ESPI measurement system: (1) control block, (2) video head, (3) illumination head, (4) monitor, (5) sample, (6) signal generator UNI–T UTG2025A, and (7) high voltage linear amplifier FLC Electronics A400.
Figure 6
Figure 6
XRD patterns of compound obtained from Cif file.
Figure 7
Figure 7
FTIR spectrum of samples Ba32, Ba48, Ba90, and Ba140 showing bending and stretching between molecules in form of peaks in transmittance mode.
Figure 8
Figure 8
SEM micrographs of: (a) Ba32 (b) Ba48 (c) Ba90, and (d) Ba140 samples.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) spectra of compounds.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Diagram of contact angle measurements.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Determination of the critical surface tension using a Zisman method.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Generated voltage diagrams of (a) Ba32, (b) Ba48, (c) Ba90, and (d) Ba140.
Figure 13
Figure 13
Time-average speckle interferogram (a) and graph representing vibrational modes in the BCZT elements (b).
Figure 14
Figure 14
Prototype of microfluidic device with implemented BCZT composite.
Figure 15
Figure 15
3D view of the microchannel device (a) and its working principle (b).
Figure 16
Figure 16
Microfluidic testing system consisting of (1) microfluidic, (2) Microscope Nikon ECLIPSE LV150, (3) inlet connection, (4) outlet connection, (5) syringe pump Aitecs PLUS SEP–21S, (6) signal generator UNI–T UTG2025A, (7) high voltage linear amplifier FLC Electronics A400, and (8) monitor.
Figure 17
Figure 17
Focused particles in the microchannel (scale size 100 µm).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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