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Piezoelectricity is linear coupling between mechanical deformation and electrical response in suitable materials. The direct piezoelectric effect produces electrical polarization under applied stress; the converse piezoelectric effect produces strain under an applied electric field. The two responses are linked by the same electromechanical coupling coefficients when conventions and mechanical constraints are specified consistently.
A piezoelectric stress sensor uses the direct response to turn force or vibration into an electrical signal. A scanning probe uses the converse response to move a tip by very small distances, controlling a tunnel junction's separation. The resulting displacement can depend on drive history through piezoelectric hysteresis and can continue changing after a voltage step through piezoelectric scanner creep. These effects motivate calibration and closed-loop control.
Piezoelectricity is the electrical charge that accumulates in certain materials (known as piezoelectric materials) in response to applied mechanical stress. When these materials are deformed—either by compression, tension, or shear—they generate an electrical voltage. Conversely, applying an electrical voltage to these materials can induce a mechanical deformation. The term "piezoelectric" comes from the Greek word "piezein," which means "to press.