PMN-PT and PIN-PMN-PT Single Crystals
PMN-PT and PIN-PMN-PT single crystals are among the most important technological advancements for underwater acoustics in recent years. PMN-PT and PIN-PMN-PT crystals provide greatly increased sensitivity and much wider bandwidth for underwater transducers. This is due to single crystals’ much higher electromechanical coupling coefficients, as well as few times higher electromechanical strains compared to standard PZT piezoelectric ceramics. This leads to much higher performing underwater transducers when they utilize PMN-PT and PIN-PMNPT single crystals, compared to utilizing standard PZT.1 Therefore, utilizing single crystal material could provide the performance breakthrough for underwater sonar applications.
Main Advantages
The main advantages of utilizing PMN-PT or PIN-PMN-PT single crystal over traditional PZT material for sonar applications are as follows:
Broader Bandwidth
It has been proven consistently by industrial applications, as well as in published research that one of the biggest advantages of utilizing PMN-PT for sonar transducers is the increased bandwidth. Design and performance of sonar transducers can be greatly improved due to the much higher electromechanical coupling coefficients (20% higher, on average, compared to traditional PZT) and higher electromechanical strains provided by PMN-PT, compared to traditional PZT.
Smaller Form Factor
The design of the single crystal transducers is critical for fully utilizing the potential advantages of single crystals. Because of its magnitude higher piezoelectric performance, single crystal piezoelectric crystals allow smaller form factor transducer design by decreasing the number of piezoelectric elements necessary. As a result, this not only provides a simplified design, but also provides weight and power advantages. Also, when packaged correctly, it has been proven that they are as strong to shock tests as traditional PZT materials are.
System Level Advantages
Single crystal materials not only provide advantages at the transducer level, but also at the system level. Next generation sonar transducers with piezoelectric single crystals can utilize smaller number of components, compared to traditional PZT, while improving the performance greatly. As a result, higher performance can be achieved at lower power consumption levels. Lower power consumption also helps increase the battery life of the overall sonar system upon deployment. Once the sonar system is deployed, increased battery performance not only provides longer active life for the system, but also improves deployment cycles, maintenance time and cost.
Our Expertise
CTS Corporation is the global leader for high volume single crystal (PMN-PT and PINPMN-PT) manufacturing. Utilizing the fully integrated manufacturing facilities in Illinois, United States, CTS can provide high volume, single crystal plates (un-diced, diced composite), discs or rings that can be utilized in underwater sonar applications. CTS single crystal materials are manufactured to high quality standards in a ISO 9001:2008 certified facility. CTS has collaborated with leading defense contractors to co-develop next generation single crystal sonar transducers that can overperform current generation sonar transducers that utilize standard PZT material. Among defense contractors that utilize piezoelectric single crystals, CTS has been the supplier of choice due to:
- High quality and high yield PMN-PT and PIN-PMN-PT materials
- Ability to provide unique component shapes (e.g. rings, plates with wedges)
- High tolerance manufacturing techniques
- Flexibility to provide tighter dielectric range components
- Support from a team of experienced Ph.D level piezoelectric single crystal scientists and well-diversified process engineers
PMN-PT and PIN-PMN-PT Properties |
Property |
Symbol |
Unit |
Material |
|
PMN-28% PT (Type A) |
PMN-32% PT (Type B) |
PIN-24% PMN-PT |
Density |
ρ |
g/cm3 |
8.1 |
8.1 |
8.122 |
Phase Transition Temperature |
Trt |
ºC |
90-100 |
80-90 |
100-115 |
Curie Temperature |
TC |
ºC |
120-130 |
130-140 |
140-170 |
Coercive Field |
EC |
kV/cm |
2.5 |
2.5 |
4.5-6 |
Piezoelectric Charge Coefficients |
d31
d33
d15
|
pC/N |
-568
1190
135
|
-760
1620
192
|
-646
1285
122
|
Relative Free Dielectric Constants |
Kσ11
Kσ33
|
- |
1600
5500
|
1620
7000
|
1728
4753
|
Published Research Has Proven:
1) Sonar transducer utilizing PMN-PT crystal has outperformed traditional PZT material in reception mode, in terms of both voltage output and bandwidth.2
2) PMN-PT and PIN-PMN-PT single crystals show significantly greater KT 33 values (electromechanical coupling coefficients) over the entire electric field range, compared to traditional PZT.3
3) Thickness coupling coefficient for 1-3 composite for ultrasound transducer fabricated out of PMN-PT has increased by more than twice compared to that of standard PZT.4
4) In a single element transducer made with a single-phase active material, PMN-PT material has proven to outperform PZT-5H ceramic in all transduction modes (transmit-receive mode voltage output is of higher magnitude for PMN-PT single crystal).3
5) PMN-PT single crystal, compared to traditional PZT, provides greatly improved projector performance in a smaller package size. The 650% higher piezoelectric constant provides either 10-15 dB more source level at the same drive, or the same source level at 10-15 dB lower drive. The 50% higher coupling factor for PMN-PT provides 6 times greater bandwidth, while providing better amplifier matching.5
Advantages of Single Crystal Piezoelectric Materials for Sonar Applications:
1) Higher piezoelectric constant (Higher transmit voltage)
2) Higher electromechanical coupling coefficients (Increased sensitivity and wider bandwidth)
3) Lower modulus (Smaller projector size)
4) Higher sensitivity both in transmission and reception modes1
5) Improved power consumption at the system level (Improved down-time)
Applications:
- Maritime Security
- Anti-Submarine Warfare
- Hydrophones
- Oil and Gas Exploration
- High-Resolution Underwater Acoustic Imaging
PMN-PT vs. Standard PZT Property Comparison in Sonar Transducer Applications

The chart above compares sonar transducer related piezoelectric critical parameters for PMN-PT and that of traditional PZT. Data proves that PMN-PT has exceeded traditional PZT properties by at least 5 folds, as also summarized in the table below. This translates to much higher performing sonar transducers, while potentially requiring less components if traditional PZT were to be utilized, as previously explained in greater detail.
Property |
Magnitude Difference (PMN-PT over PZT) |
Elastic Compliance |
5x |
Dielectrict Constant |
8x |
Piezoelectric Charge Coefficient d33 |
9x |
Piezoelectric Charge Coefficient d31 |
10x |
Piezoelectric Charge Coefficient d32 |
10x |
References
1. H. Li et al., “Piezoelectric materials used in underwater acoustic transducers,” PNNL review paper, 2012
2. P. Marin-Franch et al., “Progress towards ultrasound applications of new single crystal materials,” J. of Materials Sci., 15, 715-20, 2004
3. K. Cheng et al., “Single Crystal PMN-0.33PT/Epoxy 1-3 Composites for Ultrasonic Transducer Applications,” IEEE Trans. Ultras., Ferroel., Freq Cont. 50, 9, 2003
4. M. Thi et al., “Large area 0-3 and 1-3 piezoelctric composites based on single crystal PMN-PT for transducer applications,” Physics Procedia 3, 897-904, 2010
5. L. M. Ewart et al., “Mechanical and electromechanical properties of PMNT single crystals for naval sonar transducers,” IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control, 54, 12, 2007
January 31, 2025
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