Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric element substrate including a diaphragm, multiple piezoelectric elements each including: a first electrode on the diaphragm, a piezoelectric layer on the first electrode, and a second electrode on the piezoelectric layer, a metal wiring layer on the second electrode, the metal wiring layer including wiring patterns coupled to the multiple piezoelectric elements, and a subframe bonded to a bonding region of the piezoelectric element substrate via adhesive, wherein the subframe has a recess facing the wiring patterns in the bonding region.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element substrate is provided. The piezoelectric element substrate includes: a substrate member; a plurality of piezoelectric elements on the substrate member; a plurality of wiring patterns on one side of the substrate member on which the plurality of piezoelectric elements is disposed; and a bonding pattern in a region different from the wiring patterns on the one side of the substrate member. Each of the piezoelectric elements includes a first electrode, a piezoelectric body, and a second electrode. The wiring patterns are connected to the corresponding piezoelectric elements. The bonding pattern is to be bonded to another substrate directly or via an insulating film, and is made of a metal layer having a plurality of slots.

Abstract: An electromechanical transducer element includes a first electrode on a diaphragm, an electromechanical transducer film on the first electrode, and a second electrode on the electromechanical transducer film. The electromechanical transducer film has a stacking structure. The electromechanical transducer film has a linear tapered shape that narrows from a first side facing the first electrode to a second side facing the second electrode in a cross section along a stacking direction.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element substrate is provided. The piezoelectric element substrate includes: a substrate member; a plurality of piezoelectric elements on the substrate member; a plurality of wiring patterns on one side of the substrate member on which the plurality of piezoelectric elements is disposed; and a bonding pattern in a region different from the wiring patterns on the one side of the substrate member. Each of the piezoelectric elements includes a first electrode, a piezoelectric body, and a second electrode. The wiring patterns are connected to the corresponding piezoelectric elements. The bonding pattern is to be bonded to another substrate directly or via an insulating film, and is made of a metal layer having a plurality of slots.

Abstract: An electromechanical transducer element includes a first electrode on a substrate, an electromechanical transducer film on the first electrode, and a second electrode on the electromechanical transducer film. The electromechanical transducer film includes a thin line pattern. The thin line pattern includes a plurality of thin lines that are spaced away from each other.

Abstract: A functional ink that includes a precursor sol-gel solution and a solvent is provided. The precursor sol-gel solution is used for forming an oxide dielectric film having a perovskite structure represented by a general formula ABO3, and has been subjected to a partial hydrolysis process in which a viscosity change resulting from the partial hydrolysis process is controlled to be less than or equal to 50%, and water contained in the precursor sol-gel solution is controlled to be greater than or equal to 0.50 times and less than or equal to 10 times by molar ratio with respect to a B site atom contained in the precursor sol-gel solution. The functional ink has a metal oxide concentration and a viscosity that renders the functional ink suitable for being discharged from a nozzle of a liquid droplet discharge apparatus included in a thin film fabrication apparatus.

Abstract: An electromechanical transducer element includes a first electrode on a substrate, an electromechanical transducer film on the first electrode, and a second electrode on the electromechanical transducer film. The electromechanical transducer film includes a thin line pattern. The thin line pattern includes a plurality of thin lines that are spaced away from each other.

Abstract: A functional ink that includes a precursor sol-gel solution and a solvent is provided. The precursor sol-gel solution is used for forming an oxide dielectric film having a perovskite structure represented by a general formula ABO3, and has been subjected to a partial hydrolysis process in which a viscosity change resulting from the partial hydrolysis process is controlled to be less than or equal to 50%, and water contained in the precursor sol-gel solution is controlled to be greater than or equal to 0.50 times and less than or equal to 10 times by molar ratio with respect to a B site atom contained in the precursor sol-gel solution. The functional ink has a metal oxide concentration and a viscosity that renders the functional ink suitable for being discharged from a nozzle of a liquid droplet discharge apparatus included in a thin film fabrication apparatus.

Abstract: A PZT precursor solution is used for forming a PZT film by a sol-gel method. The PZT precursor solution includes a solvent; a component that forms a crystal of PZT by crystallization, the component being dissolved in the solvent; and an element that inhibits crystal growth of PZT, the element being dissolved in the solvent.

Abstract: A PZT precursor solution is used for forming a PZT film by a sol-gel method. The PZT precursor solution includes a solvent; a component that forms a crystal of PZT by crystallization, the component being dissolved in the solvent; and an element that inhibits crystal growth of PZT, the element being dissolved in the solvent.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of fabricating an electromechanical transducer film. The method includes treating a surface of a first electrode to be liquid-repellent, the first electrode being formed on one surface of a substrate, irradiating the surface of the first liquid-repellent electrode with an energy ray while moving an irradiation position in accordance with a shape of the electromechanical transducer film to be formed and a shape of an alignment mark to be formed, and forming the alignment mark by applying an application liquid to an area including a portion irradiated with the energy ray in accordance with the shape of the alignment mark in the irradiating step, the application liquid being applied by an inkjet method.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an electromechanical transducer film includes applying a precursor solution on a support substrate, heating the substrate at a first temperature to form a ceramic thin-film in amorphous state, applying a sol-gel solution onto the ceramic thin-film, and heating the ceramic thin-film at a second temperature to form an electromechanical transducer thin-film in amorphous state. The method further includes heating the ceramic and transducer thin-films at a third temperature to thermally decompose an organic substance in the sol-gel solution and form a unitary thin-film, processing the unitary thin-film to form a patterned unitary thin-film, modifying an area on which the patterned film is not formed, discharging the sol-gel solution onto a surface of the patterned film by a liquid discharge head to apply the sol-gel solution to the surface of the patterned film, and heating the patterned film at a fourth temperature to crystallize the patterned film.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical transducer element is disclosed. The electro-mechanical transducer element includes a first electrode formed on a substrate; an electro-mechanical transducer film formed on at least a part of the first electrode; and a second electrode formed on at least a part of the electro-mechanical transducer film. In at least one cross section of the electro-mechanical transducer film, a film thickness distribution shape is convex to the second electrode side.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a metal oxide film is disclosed. The method includes the steps of soaking a substrate on which the metal oxide film is formed in a precursor solution for forming the metal oxide film; and irradiating and scanning a light, the light being collected at an interface between the substrate and the precursor solution, wherein the light is transmitted through the precursor solution, and the metal oxide film is formed on the substrate.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a substrate; and a plurality of thin-film elements formed on the substrate. Further, the thin-film element includes a thin-film section having a function selected from a group including piezoelectric effect, inverse piezoelectric effect, charge storage, semiconductivity, and conductivity, and the plurality of thin-film elements includes the thin-film sections having two or more different functions.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an electromechanical transducer film includes applying a precursor solution on a support substrate, heating the substrate at a first temperature to form a ceramic thin-film in amorphous state, applying a sol-gel solution onto the ceramic thin-film, and heating the ceramic thin-film at a second temperature to form an electromechanical transducer thin-film in amorphous state. The method further includes heating the ceramic and transducer thin-films at a third temperature to thermally decompose an organic substance in the sol-gel solution and form a unitary thin-film, processing the unitary thin-film to form a patterned unitary thin-film, modifying an area on which the patterned film is not formed, discharging the sol-gel solution onto a surface of the patterned film by a liquid discharge head to apply the sol-gel solution to the surface of the patterned film, and heating the patterned film at a fourth temperature to crystallize the patterned film.

Abstract: A method of making a liquid discharge head which includes a nozzle to discharge liquid, a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle, a pressure chamber substrate to form surfaces of the pressure chamber, and a piezoelectric actuator to apply pressure to liquid in the pressure chamber having a lower electrode, a ferroelectric film, and an upper electrode, includes a silicon wafer supplying process, a position adjustment process, a surface treatment process to reform a surface of the lower electrode, a liquid applying process to apply ferroelectric precursor on the lower electrode by an inkjet method, a heating process to heat the ferroelectric precursor film, and a cooling process. A series of processes from the position adjustment process to the cooling process is iterated to form a ferroelectric film having a predetermined thickness. The series of processes is performed with certain waiting times inserted between key processes.

Abstract: A precursor sol-gel solution is provided that has been subjected to a partial hydrolysis process and is used for forming an oxide dielectric film having a perovskite structure represented by the general formula ABO3. The precursor sol-gel solution is subjected to a stabilization process for controlling a viscosity change resulting from the partial hydrolysis process to be less than or equal to 50%, and water contained in the precursor sol-gel solution is controlled to be greater than or equal to 0.50 times and less than or equal to 10 times by molar ratio with respect to a B site atom contained in the precursor sol-gel solution.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electromechanical transducer film forming method including a surface modification process; an application process; and processes of drying, thermally decomposing, and crystallizing sol-gel solution applied to a portion of a surface of a first electrode. An electromechanical transducer film is formed on a desired pattern area on the surface of the first electrode by repeating the above processes. In the application process, each of dots of the sol-gel solution applied by the inkjet method drops onto both a first area inside the desired pattern area and a second area outside the desired pattern area. The first area is a hydrophilic area on the surface of the first electrode, and the second area is a hydrophobic area on the surface of the first electrode. The hydrophilic area and the hydrophobic area have been modified by the surface modification process.

Abstract: An actuator includes a base member and an electro-mechanical transducer element including a first electrode, an electro-mechanical transducer film, and a second electrode. Further, the base member includes a thin wall part having a concave shape, the electro-mechanical transducer film is formed in a manner such that a film thickness of the electro-mechanical transducer film is gradually reduced from a center part of the electro-mechanical transducer film to both end parts of the electro-mechanical transducer film in at least one direction crossing a film thickness direction of the electro-mechanical transducer film.