Giant piezoelectricity of Sm-doped Pb(Mg _1/3 Nb _2/3 )O ₃ -PbTiO ₃ single crystals

TLDR

Piezoelectric materials generate electric charge under stress, making them useful sensors, but growing uniform single‑crystal piezoelectrics is difficult, leading to significant waste due to compositional variations. The authors synthesized samarium‑doped Pb(Mg₁/₃Nb₂/₃)O₃‑PbTiO₃ single crystals with uniform, exceptionally high piezoelectricity, making them suitable for diverse sensing applications and potentially lowering costs by eliminating waste. Li et al., Science, this issue p.

Abstract

Samarium supersensors Piezoelectric materials produce electric charge in response to changes in stress and are thus good sensor materials. One challenge has been growing single-crystal piezoelectrics with uniform properties. As of now, much of the crystal is discarded because of compositional variations. Li et al. synthesized single crystals of samarium-doped Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 -PbTiO 3 that have uniform and extremely high piezoelectric properties (see the Perspective by Hlinka). These crystals are ideal for a variety of sensing applications and could reduce cost by eliminating waste. Science , this issue p. 264 ; see also p. 228