Patent ID: 7576477

Claim:
A piezoelectric/electrostrictive device comprising: a piezoelectric/electrostrictive article obtained by firing a piezoelectric/electrostrictive porcelain composition consisting of Nb, Ta, and one or more alkali metal elements, wherein a molar ratio of Nb, Ta, and the alkali metal element in the fired piezoelectric/electrorestrictive porcelain composition is represented by a non-stoichiometric composition ratio, and wherein the piezoelectric/electrostrictive porcelain composition is obtained by mixing compounds including metal elements in a composition represented by the following general formula (1) so as to satisfy a molar ratio of the metal elements in the composition, thereby obtaining a mixture, and then calcining the resultant mixture: A 1 (Nb x Ta y )O 3-δ (1), wherein A denotes at least one alkali metal element selected from the group consisting of Li, Na and K, and 0.7≦(x+y)≦0.995; and an electrode electrically connected to the piezoelectric/electrostrictive article.