Piezoelectric materials

Introduction: the piezoelectric effect

The piezoelectric effect describes the relation between a mechanical stress
and an electrical voltage in solids.
It is reversbile: an applied mechanical stress will generate a voltage and an
applied voltage will change the shape of the solid by a small amount (up to
a 4% change in volume).
In physics, the piezoelectric effect can be described as the the link between
electrostatics and mechanics.

History
The piezoelectric effect was discovered in 1880 by the Jacques and Pierre
Curie brothers. They found out that when a mechanical stress was applied
on crystals such as tourmaline, tourmaline, topaz, quartz, Rochelle salt and
cane sugar, electrical charges appeared, and this voltage was proportional
to the stress.
First applications were piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers and soon
swinging quartz for standards of frequency (quartz clocks).
An everyday life application example is your car's airbag sensor. The
material detects the intensity of the shock and sends an electricla signal
which triggers the airbag.
Piezoelectric materials

The piezoelectric effect occurs only in non conductive materials.

Piezoelectric materials can be divided in 2 main groups: crystals and
cermaics. The most well-known piezoelectric material is quartz (SiO2).

Quartz SiO2
Introduction
The trigonal crystallized silica of SiO2 is known as Quartz and is one of the
most common crystals on earth's surface. It has an hexagonal structure
made of ,

Properties
Quartz is a very pure crystal and contains only traces of other elements.
Natural quartz contain:

Al3+: 13 to 15,000 ppm, usually only 100 ppm

Fe3+:
Ti4+:
P5+:
H+:
Li+:
Na+: 9 to 1400 ppm

K+: 3 to 300 ppm

Density: 2.65 g/cm3

Mineral class: Oxides/hydroxides

Piezoelectricity
Quartz shows a strong piezoelectric effect perpendicularly to the prism axis. Applying
pressure on a quartz crystal generates an electrical polarization along the pressure
direction. Alternatively, applying an electrical tension leads to a mechanical
deformation of the crystal.

Aluminum orthophosphate - Berlinite - AlPO4

Introduction
Aluminum orthophosphate, AlPO4, is a rhombic crystal made of sodium
phosphate and aluminum salt. In this chemical configuration, aluminum is

present as three-way positively charged cation (Al3+) reciprocal

electrostaticaly to the phosphate anion (PO43).

Properties
Density: 2560 kg/m
Mol mass: 121,95 g/mol

Gallium orthophosphate GaPO4

Introduction
Gallium orthophosphate (GaPO4) is a colorless crystal crystallizing in a
trigonal crystal system. Similar to quartz due to the fact that the silicon
atoms are replaced alternating by gallium and phosphor. Therefore this
crystal has almost the same characteristics, however it has twice its
piezoelectricity, which is an interesting advantage especially in mechanical
applications.
Contrary to quartz GaPO4 is not found in nature, but has to be synthetised.

Tourmaline
Introduction
Tourmaline has trigonal crystal properties with the following complex
chemical composition (one of the most complicated groups of silicate
minerals):

Na(Al,Fe,Li,Mg,Mn)M3Al(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH,F)4
XY3Z6 [(BO3) 3Si6O18 (OH, F) 4]
X= (approx., well, K, Mn)
Y= (mg, left, aluminium, Mn, Fe II)

Z= (aluminium, mg, Ti, CR, V, Fe III)

Chemical properties: Alumina borosilicate with fluorine.

Color: commonly black but can range from violet to green and pink.
Crystals show piezoelectric, pyroelectric effect and strong pleochroismus.

Lead zirconate titanate PZT

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) is a ceramic material made of lead (Pb),

oxygen (O) and titanium (Ti) or zirconium (Zr).

Chemical formula: Pb [ZrxTi1-x] O3 ; x = 0,52

The atoms are arranged in a cubical structure.
At temperatures below the Curie temperature (depending on the material
between 150C and 200C) the titanium atom moves from its central
position and the electrically neutral lattice becomes a dipole.
This dipole lattice presents now piezoelectric characteristics and is
considered as one of the most economical piezoelectric material.
By doping the PZT material, its piezoelectric characteristics can be
modified: especially the hardness or softness of the material.

Barium titanate BaTiO3

Barium titanate belongs to the group of electrical ceramics. It is an oxide of
barium and titanium.
As a piezoelectric material, it is usually replaced by lead zirconate titanate
(PZT).
It is used as a piezoelectric material for microphones and transducers.
Crystal Structure: tetragonal
Molar mass 233.192 g/mol

Applications

Piezoelectric Sensors
Piezoelectric sensor are devices using the piezoelectric effect to measure
acceleration, pressure, strain or force and converting them to an electrical
signal.
Piezoelements are suitable for the detection of dynamic processes.
In static applications the piezoelectric charges are too small, in order to be
detected.

An amplifier is used to convert the piezoelectric charges into a measurable

electrical tension.
Principle of operations 3 modes of operation exist depending on how a
piezoelectric material is cut:
transverse
longitudinal
shear

Ultrasonic transducers
Ultrasonic transducers (10kHz to 70kHz) are used in imaging and high
power applications.
The transducer can act as a sensor and an actuator in imaging
applciations

In high power applications such as sonochemistry or medical treatment, the

transducer sends ultrasound waves in the body and detect the returning echo.

Piezoelectric motors
A piezo motor is based on the change in mechanical shape of a
piezoelectric material when an tension is applied.
The material produces ultrasonic or acoustic vibrations and produces a
linear or rotary motion.
A few design exists currently:
Locking mechanisms
Stepping Actions
Single Action

With a fast response of the material (up to 5Mhz), it is possible to obtain a linear
speed of 800mm/second.
According to manufacturers, precision can be of a few nanometers.

Other Piezoelectric applications

High-voltage sources
In lighters or portable sparkers with a piezo fuze a sudden and strong
pressure is used in order to produce a short high voltage. The spark then
ignites the gas.
Frequency standard
Reduction of vibrations

 Piezoelements are used in music for acoustic instruments. They are inserted in
stringed instruments such as guitar, violin or Mandoline. The dynamic deformation of
the instrument (vibration of the cords) is converted into a small alternating voltage.