. 24/7 Space News .
CHIP TECH
A possible paradigm shift within piezoelectricity
by Staff Writers
Copenhagen, Denmark (SPX) Feb 21, 2022

stock image only

Piezoelectricity is used everywhere: Watches, cars, alarms, headphones, pickups for instruments, electric lighters and gas burners. One of the most common examples is probably the quartz watch, where the piezoelectric material quartz is a prerequisite for the watch's function.

Piezoelectric materials have the particular property that their shape changes when applying an electrical voltage to the material. It also works the other way around: Exposing them to a mechanical impact will create an electrical voltage.

Piezoelectricity is often used in sensors, actuators, and resonators. In small devices, they are known as MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems). Here, materials other than quartz must be used. These materials, however, often contain lead in the form of lead zirconate titanate (PZT).

This may prove to be a barrier to the spread of technology in, for example, the biomedical field, as lead is harmful to the body. However, researchers assess an excellent potential for utilizing the piezoelectric effect in a wider range of diagnostics, prognosis and therapy technologies if lead could be removed.

In a new, scientific article in the journal Science, Professor Nini Pryds and Professor Vincenzo Esposito from DTU Energy show that it is possible to create piezoelectric effects in materials where this is not ordinarily possible. It paves the way for designing piezoelectric materials that are lead-free and far more environmentally friendly. The research was conducted with colleagues from EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne), Tel Aviv University and the University of Antwerp.

More environmentally friendly materials
The work stems from the DTU-coordinated EU project Biowings, where several European partners are researching the development of new biomedical MEMS made with thin, lead-free films based on Gadolinium-doped oxide materials that are non-toxic and environmentally friendly. It is a great challenge, but the potential within, e.g. blood cell sorting, bacterial separation, and estimation of hematocrit levels are high.

"Many micro-electromechanical systems already exist, but they often contain lead-containing materials that are harmful for human implantation. The BioWings project aims to develop biocompatible materials with properties similar to common lead-containing materials that do not contain lead or the other harmful materials," says Nini Pryds, adding:

"The new development will provide a fundamental step towards environmentally friendly piezoelectric materials with high performance for use, e.g. in car technology and medical applications," says Nini Pryds.

As a fundamental premise, piezoelectric materials depend on crystal symmetry. Typical piezoelectric materials have a so-called non-centrosymmetric crystal lattice. This means, for example, that when one presses on the material, an electrical voltage naturally arises across the material due to the movement of positive and negative ions relative to each other. This results in the symmetry of the crystal being broken. For over a century, this has been a significant obstacle to finding new piezoelectric materials because piezoelectricity can only be created with a non-centrosymmetric crystal lattice.

Possible paradigm shift
One of the startling results of the new study is that a sizeable piezoelectric effect can be achieved with materials that do not usually allow it - i.e. centrosymmetric materials. Induction of piezoelectricity in centrosymmetric oxides can be achieved by using alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) simultaneously. The field leads to the movement of positive and negative ion defects in the material relative to each other resulting in electric dipole or polarization. It breaks the crystal symmetry of the material, thereby achieving piezoelectricity in centrosymmetric crystals.

According to Nini Pryds, this concept will also be possible with other materials with similar atomic defects. It can thus help pave the way for non-lead-based piezoelectricity in, for example, actuators and sensors.

"For the time being, piezoelectric materials are limited to the non-centrosymmetric crystal structure. This entails a significant limitation in the number of materials that may be used. Our new results provide a paradigm shift towards inducing piezoelectricity in centrosymmetric crystals, thereby expanding the number of possible materials used. I expect it will have a significant effect on the design of new electromechanical devices with new biocompatible materials," says Nini Pryds.

Piezoelectricity is used everywhere: Watches, cars, alarms, headphones, pickups for instruments, electric lighters and gas burners. One of the most common examples is probably the quartz watch, where the piezoelectric material quartz is a prerequisite for the watch's function.

Piezoelectric materials have the particular property that their shape changes when applying an electrical voltage to the material. It also works the other way around: Exposing them to a mechanical impact will create an electrical voltage.

Piezoelectricity is often used in sensors, actuators, and resonators. In small devices, they are known as MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems). Here, materials other than quartz must be used. These materials, however, often contain lead in the form of lead zirconate titanate (PZT).

This may prove to be a barrier to the spread of technology in, for example, the biomedical field, as lead is harmful to the body. However, researchers assess an excellent potential for utilizing the piezoelectric effect in a wider range of diagnostics, prognosis and therapy technologies if lead could be removed.

In a new, scientific article in the journal Science, Professor Nini Pryds and Professor Vincenzo Esposito from DTU Energy show that it is possible to create piezoelectric effects in materials where this is not ordinarily possible. It paves the way for designing piezoelectric materials that are lead-free and far more environmentally friendly. The research was conducted with colleagues from EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne), Tel Aviv University and the University of Antwerp.

More environmentally friendly materials
The work stems from the DTU-coordinated EU project Biowings, where several European partners are researching the development of new biomedical MEMS made with thin, lead-free films based on Gadolinium-doped oxide materials that are non-toxic and environmentally friendly. It is a great challenge, but the potential within, e.g. blood cell sorting, bacterial separation, and estimation of hematocrit levels are high.

"Many micro-electromechanical systems already exist, but they often contain lead-containing materials that are harmful for human implantation. The BioWings project aims to develop biocompatible materials with properties similar to common lead-containing materials that do not contain lead or the other harmful materials," says Nini Pryds, adding:

"The new development will provide a fundamental step towards environmentally friendly piezoelectric materials with high performance for use, e.g. in car technology and medical applications," says Nini Pryds.

As a fundamental premise, piezoelectric materials depend on crystal symmetry. Typical piezoelectric materials have a so-called non-centrosymmetric crystal lattice. This means, for example, that when one presses on the material, an electrical voltage naturally arises across the material due to the movement of positive and negative ions relative to each other. This results in the symmetry of the crystal being broken. For over a century, this has been a significant obstacle to finding new piezoelectric materials because piezoelectricity can only be created with a non-centrosymmetric crystal lattice.

Possible paradigm shift
One of the startling results of the new study is that a sizeable piezoelectric effect can be achieved with materials that do not usually allow it - i.e. centrosymmetric materials. Induction of piezoelectricity in centrosymmetric oxides can be achieved by using alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) simultaneously. The field leads to the movement of positive and negative ion defects in the material relative to each other resulting in electric dipole or polarization. It breaks the crystal symmetry of the material, thereby achieving piezoelectricity in centrosymmetric crystals.

According to Nini Pryds, this concept will also be possible with other materials with similar atomic defects. It can thus help pave the way for non-lead-based piezoelectricity in, for example, actuators and sensors.

"For the time being, piezoelectric materials are limited to the non-centrosymmetric crystal structure. This entails a significant limitation in the number of materials that may be used. Our new results provide a paradigm shift towards inducing piezoelectricity in centrosymmetric crystals, thereby expanding the number of possible materials used. I expect it will have a significant effect on the design of new electromechanical devices with new biocompatible materials," says Nini Pryds.

Research Report: "Induced Giant Piezoelectricity in Centrosymmetric Oxides"


Related Links
Technical University of Denmark
Computer Chip Architecture, Technology and Manufacture
Nano Technology News From SpaceMart.com


Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly


paypal only
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal


CHIP TECH
Chaining atoms together yields quantum storage
Pasadena CA (SPX) Feb 18, 2022
Engineers at Caltech have developed an approach for quantum storage could help pave the way for the development of large-scale optical quantum networks. The new system relies on nuclear spins-the angular momentum of an atom's nucleus-oscillating collectively as a spin wave. This collective oscillation effectively chains up several atoms to store information. The work, which is described in a paper published on February 16 in the journal Nature, utilizes a quantum bit (or qubit) made from an ion of ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

CHIP TECH
NASA offers up to $200M to help push new technologies to market

Virgin Galactic re-opens ticket sales for $450,000

Global patent filings surged to record high in 2021: UN

China joins industrial design IP treaty

CHIP TECH
Vaya Space completes first suborbital test flight

Orbex prepares for rocket launch 'dress rehearsals' as launchpad arrives at test site

SpaceX plans new private spaceflight missions, first private spacewalk

US billionaire announces three more ambitious SpaceX flights

CHIP TECH
Students with Perseverance receive messages from Mars

Sols 3388-3390: Pediment Passage

Valentine's Day on Mars as Curiosity marks Sol 3387

Testing rocks on Earth to help NASA's Perseverance work on Mars

CHIP TECH
China to make 6 human spaceflights, rocket's maiden flight in 2022: blue book

China welcomes cooperation on space endeavors

China Focus: China to explore lunar polar regions, mulling human landing: white paper

China to boost satellite services, space technology application: white paper

CHIP TECH
Europe needs a crewed space vehicle, astronauts say

End of Lockheed bid for Aerojet Rocketdyne may impact space, missile markets

UK candidates make it through to next round of European Space Agency's astronaut call

Russian Soyuz rocket launches 34 new UK satellites

CHIP TECH
Only nine percent of plastic recycled worldwide: OECD

Extremely rare observation of 'tennis-like' vibrations of lead

New Space Station experiments study flames in space

Treasured trash: UK waste gets new lease of life

CHIP TECH
Studying the next interstellar interloper with Webb

Researchers find evidence for existence of uneven circumstellar matter based on TESS data

New planet detected around star closest to the Sun

New chemical pathway allows for Peptides to form on cosmic dust grains

CHIP TECH
New Horizons team puts names to the places on Arrokoth

NASA Telescope Spots Highest-Energy Light Ever Detected From Jupiter

Juno and Hubble data reveal electromagnetic 'tug-of-war' lights up Jupiter's upper atmosphere

Oxygen ions in Jupiter's innermost radiation belts









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.