A very small, anharmonic but periodic signal is separated from a noise background that is orders of magnitude larger than the pure signal. The approach consists of a sequence of filters and transformations and is demonstrated on an interferometric measurement of the high-temperature chemical expansion of a thin film, containing heat haze, thermal length drift, and parasitic vibrations. The displacement is 38 % larger and the uncertainty 35 % lower than when evaluated with previous approaches.

High-temperature stable piezoelectric resonators are coated with oxide electrodes. The impact of the oxide electrode conductivity on the mass sensitivity and on the resonance frequency of the device is described by electrical and mechanical models, which are used to analyse the experimental data. Furthermore, the impact of an increasing oxide electrode conductivity is discussed with respect to the application of oxide electrodes and for gas sensing.

Temperature sensors based on piezoelectric devices enable precise measurement of temperature changes in harsh environments such as high temperatures or aggressive atmospheres. In the case of this device, the change in the temperature is detected by means of the changing resonance frequency of the sensor. Here a sensor device based on catangasite (an isomorph of quartz) is presented. We discuss its behavior at elevated temperatures and confirm that it can successfully operate up to 1030 °C.

The actuators of precise positioning based on LiNbO₃ or LiTaO₃ bimorph structures are considered. They consist of two joined plates: one of them lengthens and the other one shortens under the influence of an electric field and, as a result, the actuator bends. Such a device ensures small movements of probes in scanning probe microscopes, micro-electromechanical systems, micro-motors, etc. We determine the optimal orientations of the plates, ensuring the highest possible actuator displacements.

In a very specific way, this research paper shows how established systems – in this case a commercial soot sensor for the automotive sector – can be optimized by diving deep into the basic research. The approach here is to link macroscopic observations or signal behavior with processes taking place on the atomic level. Taking these fundamental processes into account, the sensor's specific response time could be shortened effectively by a change in operating strategy – without any design changes.