ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the theoretical foundation of the photostrictive effect and then explores how the performance of microactuators constructed from these materials can be enhanced through modifying the material composition and altering the preparation technique. It introduces a special class of photostrictive microactuators based on the photovoltaic effect of piezoelectric materials. Photostrictive actuators directly convert the photonic energy to mechanical motion by taking advantage of the superposition of the "bulk" photovoltaic effect and the converse piezoelectric effect. The microstructure, density, porosity, and chemical composition of the lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) ceramic will influence the photovoltaic behavior and strain the response of the PLZT material. Consider the optimum compositions of the PLZT material from the perspective of designing a photostrictive actuator. Light-driven actuating mechanisms that produce mechanical displacement or forces were also investigated. Uchino K. and his colleagues have proposed a new type of "photophone" that exploits photostrictive PLZT bimorphs as the photo-acoustic component.
