PIEZOELECTICITY AND

ITS
APPLICATIONS
By:
AZEEM AHMAD KHAN
ELECTRONICS ENGG.
A4LE 44
Under the Guidance of :

Prof. MJR Khan Sb.

CONTENTS
1.INTRODUCTION
2.MATERIALS
3.WORKING
4.APPLICATIONS
5.CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION
Piezoelectricity was discovered by Curie brothers

in 1880.
It is the generation of electric field from applied
pressure.
It is observed in crystalline materials with no
inversion symmetry.
The materials exhibiting the direct piezoelectric
also exhibit the reverse piezoelectric effect (the
internal generation of a mechanical strain
resulting from an applied electrical field).

MATERIALS
NATURAL

SYNTHETIC

Quartz

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT)

Rochelle Salt

Zinc oxide (ZnO)

Topaz

Barium titanate (BaTiO3)

Sucrose

Gallium orthophosphate (GaPO4)

Tendon

Potassium niobate (KNbO3)

Silk

Lead titanate (PbTiO3)

Enamel

Lithium tantalate (LiTaO3)

Dentin

Langasite (La3Ga5SiO14)

DNA

Sodium tungstate (Na2WO3)

The

positive

WORKING

&

negative

charges

are

symmetrically distributed in a crystal.

Piezoelectric ceramic materials are not

piezoelectric until the random ferroelectric

domains are aligned by a process known as
POLING.
Poling consists of inducing a DC voltage

across the material.

Contd.

Fig: (a) Random orientation of domains prior to

poling
(b) Poling in DC Electric Field
(c) Remanent polarization after field is
removed

Contd.
When pressure is applied to an object, a

negative charge is produced on the

expanded side and a positive charge on
the compressed side.
Once the pressure is relieved, electrical

current flows across the material.

PIEZO TRANSDUCER

PRIME APPLICATION
PIEZOELECTRIC ENERGY
HARVESTING

POWER GENERATING SIDEWALK

GYMS AND
WORKPLACES
Vibrations caused from machines in the

gym.
At workplaces, piezoelectric crystal are
laid in the chairs for storing energy.
Utilizing the vibrations in the vehicle like
clutches, gears etc.

MOBILE KEYPADS & KEYBOARDS

Crystals laid down under keys of mobile

unit and keyboard.

For every key pressed vibrations are
created.
These vibrations can be used for charging
purposes.

POWER GENERATING BOOTS OR

SHOES
Idea was researched in US.
To power the battlefield equipment by

generators embedded in soldier boots.

Idea
was abandoned due to the
discomfort.

FLOOR MATS AND PEOPLE

POWERED DANCE CLUBS
Series of crystals can be laid below the floor

mats, tiles and carpets.

One footstep can only provide enough
electrical current to light two 60-watt bulbs for
one second.
[source: Christian Science Monitor].
When mob uses the dance floor, an enormous
voltage is generated.
This energy is used to power the equipment
of nightclubs.

OUTPUT POWER
The output voltage obtained from a single

piezoelectric crystal is in millivolt(mV)

range, which is different for different
crystals.
And the wattage is in microwatt(W)
range.
In order to achieve higher voltages, the
piezoelectric crystals can be arranged in
series.
Used to charge batteries for backup
supplies
or
to
power
low-power

OTHER APPLICATIONS:
Electric cigarette lighter:
Pressing the button of the lighter causes a springloaded
hammer to hit a piezoelectric
crystal, producing a sufficiently high voltage that
electric current flows across a small spark gap, thus
heating and igniting the gas.
As sensing elements:

Detection of pressure variations in the form of

sound is the most common sensor application,
e.g. piezoelectric microphones. Sound waves bend
the piezoelectric material, creating a changing
voltage.

ADVANTAGES
Unaffected by external
electromagnetic fields.

Pollution Free

DISADVANTAGES
They cannot be used for
truly static
measurements
Can pick up stray
voltages in connecting
wires.

Low Maintenance

Crystal is prone to crack

if overstressed.

Easy replacement of
equipment.

May get affected by long

use at high
temperatures.

CONCLUSION
Piezoelectricity is a revolutionary source for

GREEN ENERGY.
Flexible piezoelectric materials are attractive
for power harvesting applications because of
their ability to withstand large amounts of
strain.
Convert
the ambient vibration energy
surrounding them into electrical energy.
Electrical energy can then be used to power
other devices or stored for later use.

REFERENCES:
Piezoelectric Electric based energy harvesting Nuthan

Raju, V. Karthik ,T.P Mohd Jaffar Ahmed Khan.

Tomasz G. Zielinski, Fundamentals of piezoelectricity,
Institute Of Fundamental Technological Research, Warsaw,
Poland.
Tanvi Dikshit, Dhawal Shrivastava, (February 25,2010),
Energy Harvesting via Piezoelectricity.
http://www.electroschematics.com/4301/piezoelectricitydesign-notes.
(http://web.archive.org/web/20101006002651/http://www.ee
times.com/electronics-news/4197064/PiezoelectricTechnology-A-Primer)
http://www.instrumentationtoday.com/piezoelectrictransducer/2011/07/

THANK
YOU