Abstract: A method of manufacturing a piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric layer forming step of sequentially and repeatedly performing a heat treatment step of applying a piezoelectric material containing lead to a lower electrode film at a relative humidity in the range of 30% to 50% Rh and then performing a heat treatment to form a piezoelectric precursor film and a crystallization step of firing the piezoelectric precursor film to form a piezoelectric film on the lower electrode film, thereby forming a piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid jet head includes depositing a lower electrode film on a passage forming substrate and patterning the lower electrode film into a predetermined pattern, forming a piezoelectric layer on the passage forming substrate, forming an intermediate film made of a conductive material on the piezoelectric layer, forming a protective film on the intermediate film and, using the protective film as a mask, patterning by etching the piezoelectric layer together with the intermediate film into a predetermined pattern, peeling off the protective film, and depositing an upper electrode film on the passage forming substrate and patterning the upper electrode film into a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an actuator apparatus includes forming, on the base plate, a test pattern that is electrically discontinuous with the electrodes of the piezoelectric element and has the same layer as the lower electrode, the test pattern having the lower electrode with the upper electrode and the piezoelectric material layer removed by etching, and measuring electric resistance of the lower electrode of the test pattern to acquire the etch amount of the lower electrode when the piezoelectric element is formed.

Abstract: A liquid-jet head and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The liquid-jet head includes a channel substrate which has pressure generation chambers formed therein and communicating nozzle orifices for discharging liquid droplets, and piezoelectric elements. The piezoelectric element includes a lower electrode, a piezoelectric layer and an upper electrode, and disposed on one surface of the channel substrate via a vibration plate, wherein at least pattern regions of the respective layers which constitute the piezoelectric element are covered with an insulating film formed of an inorganic insulating material.

Abstract: Disclosed are a piezoelectric element in which crystallinity of a piezoelectric layer is improved, and which has uniform characteristics of the piezoelectric layer, a liquid-jet head using the piezoelectric element as well as a liquid-jet apparatus. The piezoelectric element includes: a lower electrode provided to one surface side of a substrate; a piezoelectric layer which is made of a piezoelectric material containing lead (Pb), zirconium (Zr) and titanium (Ti), and which is provided above the lower electrode; and an upper electrode provided above the piezoelectric layer, and in the piezoelectric element, a relative permittivity of the piezoelectric layer is 750 to 1500 and a coercive electric field of the piezoelectric layer is 10 to 40 kV/cm.

Abstract: A method for producing an actuator device, comprising the steps of: forming a vibration plate on a substrate; and forming a piezoelectric element composed of a lower electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and an upper electrode on the vibration plate, wherein in the step of forming the piezoelectric element, the upper electrode is formed on the piezoelectric layer by sputtering, a temperature of 25 to 250 (° C.) and a pressure of 0.4 to 1.5 (Pa) are used during the sputtering, and upon the sputtering, the upper electrode having a thickness of 30 to 100 (nm), stress of 0.3 to 2.0 (GPa), and specific resistance of 2.0 (×10?7 ?·m) or less is formed.

Abstract: There are provided a liquid-jet head which can reliably prevent breakage of piezoelectric elements over a long period of time, and a method for manufacturing the liquid-jet head, as well as a liquid-jet apparatus. Further, there are provided a liquid-jet head which can effectively prevent a drop in the amount of displacement of a vibration plate caused through drive of a piezoelectric element, and a method for manufacturing the liquid-jet head, as well as a liquid-jet apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed are a piezoelectric element in which crystallinity of a piezoelectric layer is improved, and which has uniform characteristics of the piezoelectric layer, a liquid-jet head using the piezoelectric element as well as a liquid-jet apparatus. The piezoelectric element includes: a lower electrode provided to one surface side of a substrate; a piezoelectric layer which is made of a piezoelectric material containing lead (Pb), zirconium (Zr) and titanium (Ti), and which is provided above the lower electrode; and an upper electrode provided above the piezoelectric layer, and in the piezoelectric element, a relative permittivity of the piezoelectric layer is 750 to 1500 and a coercive electric field of the piezoelectric layer is 10 to 40 kV/cm.

Abstract: An ink-jet printing head comprises: a pressurizing chamber substrate having first and second sides opposing each other; a plurality of pressurizing chambers formed on the first side of the pressurizing chamber substrate; channels formed on the second side of the pressuring chamber substrate to be opposite to the pressuring chambers, respectively; oscillating plate films for pressurizing ink within the respective pressurizing chambers; and piezoelectric thin-film elements, each having upper and lower electrodes and a piezoelectric film sandwiched between the upper and lower electrodes, the piezoelectric thin-film being formed in the channel, wherein at least the upper electrode is formed to have a narrower width than that of the pressurizing chamber. And a method for producing the ink-jet head.

Abstract: A piezoelectric liquid-jet head apparatus, which provides a nearly uniform piezoelectric element and enables ejection of liquid at maximum output, is disclosed. The piezoelectric liquid-jet head has a piezoelectric element 300 provided on one surface of a passage forming substrate 10 via a vibration plate. The piezoelectric liquid jet head includes: a zirconium oxide layer 101 formed on the surface of the passage forming substrate 10; a cerium oxide layer 102 formed on the zirconium oxide layer 101; a superconductor layer 103 formed on the cerium oxide layer 102 and composed of a yttrium-barium-copper-oxygen-based material (YBCO); a lower electrode 60 formed on the superconductor layer 103 and composed of strontium ruthenate; and a piezoelectric layer 70 which is a single crystal epitaxially grown on the lower electrode 60.

Abstract: A process for producing a laminated ink-jet recording head including the steps of forming a titanium layer across a surface of a diaphragm, and forming a layer of a piezoelectric material on the titanium layer by a hydrothermal method.

Abstract: A liquid-jet head capable of preventing malfunction attributable to an external environment such as humidity of a piezoelectric element and of achieving miniaturization thereof, a manufacturing method thereof and a liquid-jet apparatus are disclosed.

Abstract: When a piezoelectric material is manufactured by hydrothermal method, the proper amount of lead contained in the piezoelectric film can be ensured and decreases in piezoelectric characteristics can be prevented. A method for manufacturing a piezoelectric material expressed by the formula ABO3, containing an element “a” as the element expressed by A above, and having a perovskite crystal structure, comprises a first step of producing an oxide containing an element “a′”, and a second step of producing a piezoelectric material by subjecting the oxide produced in the first step to a hydrothermal processing using an aqueous solution containing the element “a”, wherein the amount of the element “a”, contained in the piezoelectric material produced in the second step is increased over the amount of the element “a” contained in the oxide produced in the first step.

Abstract: A liquid-jet head and a liquid-jet apparatus capable of making the piezoelectric characteristics of a piezoelectric element nearly uniform, and performing ejection of a liquid at maximum output are provided.

Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a piezoelectric element that has excellent piezoelectric characteristics and can be made into a thicker film. A piezoelectric thin film is crystallized by a process in which piezoelectric precursor films 4021 through 4025 containing the metal elements of a piezoelectric ceramic are coated with a material, dried, pyrolyzed, and then heat-treated under prescribed conditions in a diffusion furnace. With this method, a piezoelectric thin film can be made into a thicker film without initiating cracking.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a piezoelectric element is disclosed. The method includes the steps of forming a lower electrode over a substrate, forming a piezoelectric luminous film over the lower electrode, forming an upper electrode over the piezoelectric film, forming a pressure luminous layer for emitting light upon application of pressure on the upper electrode, and attaching a substrate to the pressure luminous layer—has been inserted as a new abstract.

Abstract: A liquid-jet head capable of preventing malfunction attributable to an external environment such as humidity of a piezoelectric element and of achieving miniaturization thereof, a manufacturing method thereof and a liquid-jet apparatus are disclosed.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element having a piezoelectric film where the difference in the quantity of lead along the thickness of the film is minimized. The film is obtained by first applying, at least once, a first sol for use in forming a PZT film on a substrate having a lower electrode formed thereon. Second, applying a second sol having the greater lead content than the first sol. Third, subjecting these films to heat treatment at a predetermined temperature at least once. The second sol has a composition capable of forming a piezoelectric film having a Perovskite structure expressed generally by AxByO3, and the content of material constituting the A site of the first sol is greater than what constitutes the A site of the second sol.

Abstract: Disclosed are an ink-jet recording head, in which the rigidity of the compartment wall is improved, pressure generating chambers can be arranged in a high density, and cross talk between the pressure generating chambers is reduced, and a manufacturing method of the same and an ink-jet recording apparatus.

Abstract: A process for the formation of an oxide ceramic thin film, which permits the control of film oxygen content and can give a film reduced in oxygen deficiency. The process is characterized in that the step of forming an amorphous thin film, the step of heating the thin film to crystallize it or the step of heat-treating the crystallized film is conducted in a moisture-containing atmosphere.