The Piezoelectric Medium and Piezoelectric Sensitivity

The piezoelectric effect and related electromechanical properties are described, and examples of modern piezoelectric materials and their sensitivity are considered. Full sets of electromechanical constants of various piezoelectric materials are given for comparison. Examples of electromechanical coupling factors and figures of merit are also considered to show links between the piezoelectric sensitivity and these parameters. Among materials exhibiting the important piezoelectric properties, of interest are domain-engineered relaxor-ferroelectric single crystals, poled ferroelectric ceramics and piezo-active composites based on ferroelectrics. The importance of the piezoelectric sensitivity in piezotechnical applications is briefly discussed