Piezoelectricity, also called the piezoelectric effect, is the ability of certain materials to generate an AC

(alternating current) voltage when subjected to mechanical stress or vibration, or to vibrate when
subjected to an AC voltage, or both. The most common piezoelectric material is quartz. Certain
ceramics, Rochelle salts, and various other solids also exhibit this effect.

A piezoelectric transducer comprises a "crystal" sandwiched between two metal plates. When a sound
wave strikes one or both of the plates, the plates vibrate. The crystal picks up this vibration, which it
translates into a weak AC voltage. Therefore, an AC voltage arises between the two metal plates, with a
waveform similar to that of the sound waves. Conversely, if an AC signal is applied to the plates, it
causes the crystal to vibrate in sync with the signal voltage. As a result, the metal plates vibrate also,
producing an acoustic disturbance.

Piezoelectric transducers are common in ultrasonic applications, such as intrusion detectors and alarms.
Piezoelectric devices are employed at AF (audio frequencies) as pickups, microphones, earphones,
beepers, and buzzers. In wireless applications, piezoelectricity makes it possible to use crystals and
ceramics as oscillators that generate predictable and stable signals at RF (radio frequencies).

How Piezoelectricity Works?

A piezoelectric crystal is placed between two metal plates. At this point the material is in perfect balance
and does not conduct an electric current.

Mechanical pressure is then applied to the material by the metal plates, which forces the electric
charges within the crystal out of balance. Excess negative and positive charges appear on opposite sides
of the crystal face.

The metal plate collects these charges, which can be used to produce a voltage and send an electrical
current through a circuit.
Piezoresistivity is defined as change of resistance of semiconductors from the applied mechanical stress.

The piezoresistive effect is a change in the electrical resistivity of a material (e.g. semiconductor, metal)
when mechanical strain is applied. The electrical resistance change is due to two causes; geometry
change and conductivity change of the material. The change in resistance is much more pronounced for
semiconductors than for metals.

Transducers and sensors working on the principle of the piezoresistive effect are used in automobiles
and commercial devices to convert electrical energy to mechanical energy and vice versa.

The piezoresistive effect differs from piezoelectric in that piezoelectric is the property of a material to
generate voltage when force is applied, whereas the piezoresistive effect refers to a material's resistivity
to change.

What is Ferroelectricity?
Ferroelectricity is the phenomenon where spontaneous electric polarization of the
material takes place. The reverse electric polarization is possible by applying an electric
field. Ferroelectricity was discovered in 1920 and Rochelle salt (scientific name-
Potassium Sodium Tartrate) exhibited the properties of sudden electric polarization.
Since its discovery, various uses have been devised and today, Ferroelectricity is
used in various fields of electronics. The materials exhibiting the phenomenon of
Ferroelectricity are called Ferroelectric Materials. Ironically, the Ferroelectricity or
the Ferroelectric Materials do not have any connection to Iron(ferrite).

Ferroelectric Materials – Crystal Symmetry

The lattice structure in Ferroelectric Materials shows crystal symmetry. Crystal symmetry means the
crystal can be grouped together into microscopic symmetry types. Microscopic symmetry types are
introduced from microscopic symmetry elements. These elements combine together to form a point
group. In a Ferroelectric Material, there are about 32 point groups. Out of the 32 point groups, 21 point
groups do not have a center of symmetry. These non-symmetric point groups show piezoelectric effect
along the directional axes. Polarization in the Ferroelectric Materials is directly related to the
piezoelectric properties of the materials

Ferroelectric Materials – Spontaneous Polarization

Spontaneous polarization in Ferroelectric Material is defined as ability to polarize at a fast rate. It is the
value of the charge per unit area on the perpendicular surface. Out of the 21 non-symmetrical point
groups as explained above, only 10 point groups exhibit the spontaneous polarization property. The
reason is that cancellation of the electric moments along different axes.
Pyroelectric Effect: The spontaneous polarization in Ferroelectric Material is directly proportional to the
temperature. This phenomenon is called as Pyroelectric effect.

Ferroelectric Materials – Hysteresis Loop

The plot of polarization in Ferroelectric Material to the applied electric field is called as the Hysteresis
loop.

Fig: Hysteresis loop

As shown in the hysteresis loop, the direction of the polarization is reversed as the applied electric field
is reversed. This is the basic difference between the pyroelectric materials and the Ferroelectric
Materials. The pyroelectric materials do not posses polarization reversal and hence they are different
from Ferroelectric Material.

The theory behind polarization reversal is the domain reversal. The electric dipoles are formed within
the Ferroelectric Material when an electric field is applied. But as the field is reversed, the direction of
these electric dipoles reverses. This reversal in the direction results in polarization reversal. This is the
basic fundamental principle behind the theory of Ferroelectric Material.
Ferroelectric Materials – Curie Point

Curie point is the temperature below which the material shows Ferroelectric property. Thus, if the
temperature of the material is below the Curie point, only then the material exhibits the Ferroelectric
property. Depending upon the type of the crystal, there are various transitions for tetragonal,
orthorhombic and rhombohedral crystals.

Ferroelectric Materials – Types

1. Barium Titanate (BaTiO3)

2. Lead Titanate (PbTiO3)

3. Lead Zirconate Titanate

4. Lead Lanthanum Zirconate Titanate

5. Lead Magnesium Niobate

Ferroelectric Materials – Applications

1. Capacitors – A capacitor is an electronic component used for a number of electronic circuits. It

consists of 2 electrodes with a dielectric material in between. A Ferroelectric Material is preferred for
the manufacturing of a capacitor. Capacitors are generally formed by the Barium Titanate (BaTiO3)
material.

2. Storage memories – SRAM and DRAM are volatile. EEPROM and CMOS require a battery backup and
are very costly. Ferroelectric Random Access Memory is non-volatile as well as cheaper. FRAM is reliable
as well.

3. Waveguides – A waveguide is a device which controls the propagation of light within the device. It
carries the electromagnetic wave. The material used inside a waveguide is a Ferroelectric Material.

4. Optical Memory Display – Latest optical memory displays technologies are devised using the
Ferroelectric Material. PLZT is most preferred Ferroelectric Material for this purpose.

5. Displacement Transducers – The Ferroelectric Material is used in pressure sensors. These pressure
sensors are also termed as displacement transducers.

Piezoelectric ceramic is the general designation of ferroelectric ceramics with a piezoelectric

effect through the polarization treatment of polycrystals made by mixing oxide (zirconia, lead
oxide, titanium oxide, etc.) with high-temperature sintering and solid reaction. With good
mechanical and stable piezoelectric properties, piezoelectric ceramics have been widely used in
sensors, the ultrasonic transducer, microdisplacement device, and other electronic
components, etc. as an important force, heat, electricity, light-sensitive functional material.
With the continuous research and improvement of materials technology, and the rapid
development of electronic, information, aerospace and other high-tech fields, the production
technology and application development of piezoelectric ceramic with high intelligent materials
has become a hot topic.

A piezoceramic is a ceramic material that creates a charge separation within the material under
the influence of a deformation or vice versa. This is called the piezoelectric effect. There are
two types of piezoelectric effect, the direct and the inverse. In the case of the direct
piezoelectric effect, electrically charged regions are generated due to an external force and the
deformation associated therewith, which are located either on the upper/ lower side or on
opposite lateral surfaces of the ceramic. In the case of the inverse piezoelectric effect, charge
separation is caused when an electrical voltage is applied to the piezoceramic. The resulting
charge separation in the piezoceramic deforms it. Since the piezoelectric effect on natural
materials is very low, special ceramics have been developed in recent years. The main areas of
application for piezoceramics are piezo actuators for precise fuel metering and transducers for
the generation of ultrasound and high-frequency tones.

Piezoceramics are capable of converting mechanical quantities such as pressure and

acceleration into electrical quantities or, conversely, electrical signals into mechanical motion
or vibration.

Piezoceramic components are used in a wide range of electromechanical transducers covering a

wide frequency range. In sensors, they enable forces, pressures and accelerations to be
converted into electrical signals. In sound generators and ultrasonic transducers, they convert
voltages into vibrations or deformations.

Piezopolymers

Piezopolymers are a type of smart material that exhibit piezoelectric properties, which means
they generate an electric charge when subjected to mechanical stress or pressure. These materials
are highly flexible and can be easily molded into various shapes and sizes. Due to their excellent
electrical properties and high adaptability, piezopolymers find applications in various industries
such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, healthcare, and consumer goods.

Polymers that generate Electric charges on the surface under pressure/strain,

thus converting the mechanical energy into electrical energy is known as
piezoelectric polymers

It can be observed in certain polymers which possess a semicrystalline structure

such as polyvinylidene fluoride(PVDF), Liquid crystalline polymers and certain
grades of polyamide. Certain biopolymer including collagen, cellulose and silk
also possess piezoelectric property
Although vast majority of piezoelectric devices has been fabricated from the
piezoelectric ceramics specific application requires piezoelectric polymers which
includes hydrophones , ultrasonic transducers and tactile sensors.