LT 13

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The Piezoelectric Effect

The piezoelectric effect is the generation of electric charge by a


crystalline material upon subjecting it to stress.

This is an extremely useful effect. Reversible too!


1
➢ For quartz, stress in x-direction results in a potential difference in
the y-direction.
➢ This can be used as a traffic weighing and counting sensor!

➢ A piezoelectric sensor can be used as a capacitor, with the


piezoelectric material acting as the dielectric. The dielectric acts a
generator of electric charge resulting in a potential V across the
capacitor.
➢ The process is reversible. An electric field induces a strain in the
material. Thus a very small voltage can be applied, resulting in a
tiny change in the size of the crystal.
Characterisation of Piezoelectrics

We quantify the piezoelectric effect using a vector of Polarisation.


   
P = Pxx + Pyy + Pzz
Pxx = d11 xx + d12 yy + d13 zz
Pyy = d 21 xx + d 22 yy + d 23 zz
Pzz = d 31 xx + d 32 yy + d 33 zz

Where dmn are coefficients, i.e. numbers


that translate applied force to generated
charge and are a characteristic of the
piezoelectric material.
Units are Coulomb/Newton.
Characterisation of Piezoelectric

Piezo crystals are transducers;


They convert mechanical to electrical energy.
2
The conversion d mnY
K mn =
efficiency is given by  0 mn
the coupling
coeffient:

Where Y is Young’s Modulus = Stress/strain

 F Force
Y= ,  = stress = =
dl A Area
l
The charge generated is proportional to the applied force

The charge generated in


the X-direction from an Qx = d12 Fy
applied stress in y

Using our Q = CV, we get a generated voltage


Qx d12 Fy
V= = Area of
C C electrodes
  A
The capacitance is: C= r 0
l
d12lFy
So the Voltage is V= Thickness of
 0 r A crystal
Some Piezoelectrics
Numerical Example:

What is the sensitivity of 1 mm thick, BaTiO3 sensor with an


electrode area of 1 square cm?

V=
d12lF
=
78 1 10 −3 F 7.8 10 −2 F
=
 r  0 A 1700  8.8 10 110
−12 −4
1.5  10 −12

V
So = 5.2 1010 Volts/Newton
F
This is a big number because the effective capacitance is so
small. In the real world the voltage is smaller.
1.5 10 −12
C= −3
= 1.5nF Very Small!
110
Laminated 2-layer piezoelectric sensor

Parallel (a) and serial (c) laminated piezoelectric sensors and their corresponding equivalent
circuits (b), (d)

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