Ferroelectric thin films for micro-sensors and actuators: a review

This paper reviews deposition, integration, and device fabrication of ferroelectric PbZr_xTi_1-xO₃ (PZT) films for applications in microelectromechanical systems. As examples, a piezoelectric ultrasonic micromotor and pyroelectric infrared detector array are presented. A summary of the published data on the piezoelectric properties of PZT thin films is given. The figures of merit for various applications are discussed. Some considerations and results on operation, reliability, and depolarization of PZT thin films are presented.