Photostrictive Actuator Using PLZT Ceramics

Photostriction explainable by the superposition of the bulk photovoltaic effect and piezoelectricity has been investigated in the solid solution ceramics of (Pb, La)(Zr, Ti)O3. Using the optimum composition PLZT(3/52/48), we have fabricated a photodriven relay as a trial photostrictive actuator. Though the response is rather slow, we have observed primitive relay function controllable by the optical irradiation.