Multilayer technologies for piezo-ceramic materials

Multilayer structures have been introduced in the piezoelectric actuator primarily to introduce the following advantages: much lower drive voltage, making them safer to use, and with a cheaper power supply, and higher capacitance/lower impedance - n² times for the n-layer device. However, the following problems are also involved: more expensive manufacturing cost, both processing cost and the electrode material cost (typically rare-metal), and they are mechanically weak due to the electrode insertion.