Method of making piezoelectric composites

A method for producing a piezoelectric ceramic polymer matrix suitable for use in piezoelectric composites comprising:

• (a) immersing activated carbon material comprising fibers having a fiber outer diameter of less than about 50 microns into a solution of metal salts or complexes capable of being calcined to oxides having piezoelectric properties, said carbon material capable of absorbing at least twice its weight in liquid, for from about 10 minutes to about 36 hours and at a pH ranging from about 3 to about 10, to thereby impregnate said carbon material with said metal salts or complexes,
• (b) removing any excess solution of metal salts or complexes from said impregnated carbon material,
• (c) drying the resultant, impregnated carbon material,
• (d) calcining the dried impregnated carbon material to transform the salts or complexes to their oxide and remove the carbon material,
• (e) recovering the resultant ceramic material, and
• (f) intimately admixing a solution capable of being polymerized to a polymer material with said ceramic material, and with, optionally, the inclusion of reinforcing materials;
• or intimately admixing or imbedding said ceramic material in a polymer capable of forming a supporting matrix for said ceramic material, with, optionally, the inclusion of reinforcing material.