Piezoelectric Crystals: Constant Pressure & Electric Field

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter ScienceNerd36
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Crystals
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of piezoelectric crystals under constant pressure and whether they can continuously generate an electric field. It touches on the principles of piezoelectricity and related materials, including ferroelectric materials.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions if a constant pressure on a piezoelectric crystal will lead to a continuous generation of an electric field.
  • Another participant references a Wikipedia article suggesting that the crystal should generate an electric field under constant pressure.
  • A different participant counters that the voltage generated drops back to zero quickly due to the crystal's imperfect insulation and the need to extract current for measurement.
  • Another participant explains that when a piezoelectric crystal is deformed, a voltage builds up, but free charges will rearrange to neutralize this voltage over time.
  • One participant introduces ferroelectric materials, which can maintain constant electric fields without applied stress.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion contains multiple competing views regarding the behavior of piezoelectric crystals under constant pressure, with no consensus reached on the duration of voltage generation or the implications of charge rearrangement.

Contextual Notes

Participants note limitations related to the imperfect insulation of piezoelectric crystals and the conditions under which voltage generation occurs, but these aspects remain unresolved.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying materials science, electrical engineering, or anyone exploring the properties and applications of piezoelectric and ferroelectric materials.

ScienceNerd36
Messages
79
Reaction score
0
If a constant pressure is kept on a piezoelectric crystal, will it continue to generate an electric field?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Actually, if you try this you will notice that the voltage drops back to zero quite quickly (seconds).
This is because the crystal is not a perfect insulator, and because you must extract some current to measure the voltage.
 
Yeah, when you deform a piezoelectric crystal, a voltage builds up. But that means that there is going to be a force acting on any free charges hanging around, which will try to rearrange themselves to cancel the voltage. So after a while the crystal should be neutral again.
 
Thanks for the help :)
 
You may be interested in Ferroelectric materials too. These have constant electric fields wihout the need to apply a stress.
 
You don't say. I'll be off to read up on them right now. Thanks :)
 

Similar threads

Graduate To derive the piezoelectric effect in crystals
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
Undergrad Piezoelectric crystal and air pressure
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Graduate Piezoelectric Quartz with Pressurized Mercury Vortex
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
10K
Undergrad Piezoelectric effect -- How long does a stressed crystal produce a DC voltage?
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
4K
Graduate Piezoelectricity and the Lorentz Harmonic Oscillator?
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
4K
Growing piezoelectric crystals experiment
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Undergrad Time rondeau crystals, experimental observations
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
Finding Piezoelectric Crystal Frequency for Coherer experiment?
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
2K
Experimental procedure for growing piezoelectric crystals
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Graduate Piezoelectric Effect and EM Radiation
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K