Piezoelectric Effect

March 30, 2023

For the first time, scientists have reported evidence of piezoelectric effect in liquids.
Piezoelectric effect is the ability of certain materials to generate an electric charge in response to applied mechanical stress.
In the piezoelectric effect, a body develops an electric current when it is squeezed. The piezoelectric effect was discovered in 1880, in quartz.
- Quartz is the most famous piezoelectric crystal.
- Quartz is silicon dioxide (SiO2). The quartz crystal consists of silicon and oxygen atoms at the four vertices of a three-sided pyramid; each oxygen atom is shared by two pyramids.
It is used in this capacity in analog wristwatches and clocks. Such crystals are also used in cigarette lighters, electric guitars, TV remote controls, audio transducers etc.
The Piezoelectric effect has only been expected in solids thus far because the body being squeezed needs to have an organised structure, like pyramids of quartz.
- Liquids don’t have such structure. Instead, they take shape of their container.