Piezoelectric effect

Piezoelectric effect is the ability of certain materials to generate an electric charge in response to applied mechanical stress. The word is derived from the Greek word piezein, which means to squeeze or press, and electric which is derived from elektron, the Greek word for amber, an ancient source of electric charge.

History

The piezoelectric effect was discovered in 1880 by French physicists Jacques and Pierre Curie. The Curies conducted several experiments on a variety of crystals including quartz, tourmaline, and Rochelle salt. They found that when these crystals were compressed, they produced an electric charge. Conversely, when an electric field was applied to these crystals, they deformed in response.

Mechanism

The piezoelectric effect is understood as the linear electromechanical interaction between the mechanical and the electrical state in crystalline materials with no inversion symmetry. The piezoelectric effect is a reversible process in that materials exhibiting the direct piezoelectric effect (the internal generation of electrical charge resulting from an applied mechanical force) also exhibit the reverse piezoelectric effect (the internal generation of a mechanical strain resulting from an applied electrical field).

Applications

The piezoelectric effect has many useful applications. It is used in the production and detection of sound, generation of high voltages, electronic frequency generation, microbalances, and ultrafine focusing of optical assemblies. It is also the basis of a number of scientific instrumental techniques with atomic resolution, the scanning probe microscopies, such as STM, AFM, MTA, SNOM, etc., and everyday uses such as acting as the ignition source for cigarette lighters and push-start propane barbecues.

See also

• Piezoelectric sensor
• Piezoelectric motor
• Piezoelectricity
• Piezoelectric speaker

External links

• Piezoelectric Effect

Piezoelectric effect Resources
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