Piezoelectric element, multilayered piezoelectric element, liquid discharge head, liquid discharge apparatus, ultrasonic motor, optical apparatus, and electronic apparatus

A multilayered piezoelectric element comprising:

• piezoelectric material layers;
• and
• electrodes including an internal electrode,
• wherein the piezoelectric material layers contain piezoelectric material and the electrodes are alternately stacked;
• the piezoelectric material contains:
• crystal grains of a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by general formula (1) as a main component
• (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-yZry)O3(where 1.00≦a≦1.01,0.02≦x≦0.30,0.020≦y≦0.095, and y≦x) (1),
• and
• a manganese component incorporated in the piezoelectric material;
• and
• a manganese content relative to 100 parts by weight of the perovskite-type metal oxide is 0.02 parts by weight or more and 0.40 parts by weight or less on a metal basis,
• wherein an auxiliary component content other than the content of the manganese component relative to 100 parts by weight of the perovskite-type metal oxide is less than 2.1 parts by weight on an oxide basis,
• wherein the crystal grains have an average circular equivalent diameter of more than 0.8 μm and less than 182.0 μm, and
• wherein the piezoelectric material has a relative density of more than 89.0% and 100% or less.

A piezoelectric element obtained by:

• preparing a piezoelectric material formed of a raw material at least including a Ba compound, a Ca compound, a Ti compound, a Zr compound, and a Mn compound, and
• providing an electrode to the piezoelectric material,
• wherein the piezoelectric material includes:
• crystal grains of a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by general formula (1) as a main component
• (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-yZry)O3 (where 1.00≦a ≦1.01, 0.02≦x ≦0.30, 0.020 ≦y ≦0.095, and y ≦x) (1),
• and
• a manganese component incorporated in the piezoelectric material;
• wherein a manganese content relative to 100 parts by weight of the perovskite-type metal oxide is 0.02 parts by weight or more and 0.40 parts by weight or less on a metal basis,
• wherein an auxiliary component content other than the content of the manganese component relative to 100 parts by weight of the perovskite-type metal oxide is less than 2.1 parts by weight on an oxide basis,
• wherein the crystal grains have an average circular equivalent diameter of more than 0.8 μm and less than 182.0 μm, and
• wherein the piezoelectric material has a relative density of more than 89.0% and 100% or less.

A multilayered piezoelectric element comprising piezoelectric material layers and electrodes stacked alternately,

• wherein the piezoelectric material layers each contain a piezoelectric material formed of a raw material at least including a Ba compound, a Ca compound, a Ti compound, a Zr compound, and a Mn compound;
• wherein the piezoelectric material includes:
• crystal grains of a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by general formula (1) as a main component
• (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-yZry)O3 (where 1.00≦a ≦1.01, 0.02≦x≦0.30, 0.020 ≦y≦0.095, and y≦x) (1),
• and
• a manganese component incorporated in the piezoelectric material;
• wherein a manganese content relative to 100 parts by weight of the perovskite-type metal oxide is 0.02 parts by weight or more and 0.40 parts by weight or less on a metal basis,
• wherein an auxiliary component content other than the content of the manganese component relative to 100 parts by weight of the perovskite-type metal oxide is less than 2.1 parts by weight on an oxide basis,
• wherein the crystal grains have an average circular equivalent diameter of more than 0.8 μm and less than 182.0 μm, and
• wherein the piezoelectric material has a relative density of more than 89.0% and 100% or less.

A piezoelectric element comprising:

• a first electrode;
• a second electrode;
• and
• a piezoelectric material including
• crystal grains of a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by general formula (1) as a main component
• (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-yZry)O3 (where 1.00≦a ≦1.01, 0.02≦x≦0.30, 0.020≦y≦0.095, and y≦x) (1), and
• and
• a manganese component incorporated in the piezoelectric material,
• wherein a manganese content relative to 100 parts by weight of the perovskite-type metal oxide is 0.02 parts by weight or more and 0.40 parts by weight or less on a metal basis,
• wherein an auxiliary component content other than the content of the manganese component relative to 100 parts by weight of the perovskite-type metal oxide is less than 1.2 parts by weight on an oxide basis,
• wherein the crystal grains have an average circular equivalent diameter of more than 1.0 μm and less than 10.8 μm, and
• wherein the piezoelectric material has a relative density of more than 91.8% and 100% or less.

A multilayered piezoelectric element comprising:

• piezoelectric material layers;
• and
• electrodes including an internal electrode,
• wherein the piezoelectric material layers contain piezoelectric material and the electrodes are alternately stacked;
• wherein the piezoelectric material contains:
• crystal grains of a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by general formula (1) as a main component
• (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-yZry)O3 (where 1.00≦a ≦1.01, 0.02≦x≦0.30, 0.020≦y≦0.095, and y≦x) (1),
• and
• a manganese component incorporated in the piezoelectric material;
• wherein a manganese content relative to 100 parts by weight of the perovskite-type metal oxide is 0.02 parts by weight or more and 0.40 parts by weight or less on a metal basis;
• wherein an auxiliary component content other than the content of the manganese component relative to 100 parts by weight of the perovskite-type metal oxide is less than 1.2 parts by weight on an oxide basis;
• wherein the crystal grains have an average circular equivalent diameter of more than 1.0 μm and less than 10.8 μm;
• and
• wherein the piezoelectric material has a relative density of more than 91.8% and 100% or less.