Cranfield University

Dr Zhaorong Huang

Senior Research Fellow
Location: Building 30, Cranfield campus
E: Z.Huang@cranfield.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)1234 750111 x2721
Materials

Current activities

Clients

Background

Dr Zhaorong Huang obtained his PhD in condensed matter physics in 1989 in the Institute of Physics - Chinese Academy of Sciences. He progressed to work on a variety of subjects mainly related to the structural characterization of materials by transmission and scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x ray spectroscopy techniques before joining the Microsystem and Nanotechnology group at Cranfield University in 1996. Zhaorong become a Senior Research Fellow at Cranfield University in 2001 and over the years has diversified his research interests to include the fabrication and characterisation of piezoelectric and pyroelectric materials and devices. Some of his recent work includes: Systematic studies on the relationship between the structure and electric properties of PST thin films for uncooled IR detector array applications; studies on the nucleation and crystallization of  sol-gel prepared PZT thin films, three papers published on this subject have been well cited (over 200 times); characterization of piezoelectric and elastic properties of thin films using laser interferometry and vibrometery techniques, and magnetoelectric effect modeling and characterization. His current research interests include the development of measurement techniques for piezoelectric coefficients and elastic properties of thin and thick films using interferometer and vibrometry methods; piezoelectric actuated flapping wing micro-aerial vehicles; and multiferroic materials and devices.

Selected publications

• Z.R. Huang, J.R. Fryer, C. Park, D. Stirling and G. Webb, Transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy studies of Pt-Re/g-Al₂O₃ catalysts, J. of Catalysis, 148, 478 (1994)
• Z.R. Huang, J.R. Fryer, C. Park, D. Stirling and G. Webb, Transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy studies of Pt-Sn/g-Al₂O₃ catalysts, J. of Catalysis, 159, 340 (1996)
• Z. Huang, J.R. Fryer, C. Park, D. Stirling, and G. Webb, Transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and chemisorption studies of Pt-Ge/g-Al₂O₃ reforming catalysts, J. of Catalysis. 175, 226 (1998)
• S.A. Impey, Z. Huang, A. Patel, R. Beanland, N.M. Shorrocks, R. Watton, and R.W. Whatmore, Microstructural characterization of sol-gel lead-zirconate-titanate thin films, J. of App. Phys. 83, 2202 (1998)
• R. W. Whatmore, Z. Huang and M. Todd, Sputtered lead scandium tantalate thin films: Pb⁴⁺ in B sites in the perovskite structure, J. Appl. Phys. 82, 5686 (1998)
• Z. Huang, Q. Zhang and R. W. Whatmore, The role of an intermetallic phase on the crystallisation of lead zirconate titanate in sol-gel process, J. Mat. Sci. Lett., 17, 1157 (1998), 1865 (1998)
• Z. Huang, Q. Zhang and R. W. Whatmore, Low temperature crystallisation of lead zirconate titanate thin films by a sol-gel method,  J. Appl. Phys., 85, 7355(1999)
• Z. Huang, Q. Zhang and R. W. Whatmore, Structural development in the early stages of annealing of sol-gel prepared lead zirconate titanate thin films,  J. Appl. Phys., 86, 1662 (1999)
• Z. Huang, Q. Zhang and R. W. Whatmore, A study of lead zirconate titanate sol aging. II: Particle growth mechanism and kinetics, J. Sol Gel Sci. and Tech., 24, 51 (2002)
• Z. Huang, Combining Ar ion milling with FIB lift-out techniques to prepare high quality site-specific TEM  samples,  Journal of Microscopy, 215, 219-223 (2004)
• Z. Huang, Q. Zhang, S. Corkovic, R. Dorey and R.W. Whatmore, Comparative Measurements of Piezoelectric Coefficient of  PZT films by Berlincourt, Interferometer and Vibrometer methods, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control, 53, 2287 (2006)
• Z. Huang, Theoretical Modelling on the Magnetization by Electric Field Through Product Property, Journal of Applied Physics, 100, 114104 (2006)
• Z. Huang, G Leighton, R. Wright, F. Duval, H.C. Chung, P. Kirby and R.W. Whatmore, Determination of piezoelectric coefficients and elastic constant of thin films by laser scanning vibrometry techniques, Sensors and Actuators A-Physical, 135, 660 (2007).

Further publications