Highly Porous Open-Celled Microstructure Of (Ba0.85Ca0.15) (Zr0.1 Ti0.9 )O3 Foam Via Foam Reticulation Technique For Multifunctional Applications

Abstract

The Porous piezoelectric ceramics have emerged as a focal point of research due to their adjustable piezoelectric and mechanical characteristics, paving the way for applications like piezoelectric hydrostatic acoustic sensors and energy harvesting systems. Recently piezo catalysis has garnered attention for its efficacy in pollutant degradation via the piezoelectric effect. Traditional piezocatalysis, predominantly in powder form, presents challenges in recovery post-application, necessitating advanced separation techniques. In contrast, porous ceramics offer a viable alternative, augmenting functionalities and easing recovery processes. The present study depicts the fabrication and characterization of porous lead-free (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Zr0.1 Ti0.9)O3 (BCZT) ceramics via the foam reticulation method, utilizing polyurethane foam templates of distinct cell sizes (20, 30, 40, and 80 ppi). Notably, the 70% porous BCZT foam exhibited permittivity (ε) and piezoelectric coefficients (d33: 251 pC/N; d31: -70 pC/N). Remarkably, its hydrostatic figure of merit (HFOM) surpassed that of the dense reference material by a factor of 350. Furthermore, piezocatalytic assessments using methylene blue (MB) dye degradation tests under ultrasonic irradiation unveiled the potential of these ceramics. Specifically, BCZT foam (70% porous) demonstrated degradation of 48% MB within 240 minutes, which improved to 73% after poling. This investigation sheds light on the poling effects and underscores the promise of highly porous BCZT ceramics for multifaceted applications.