Lead-Free Piezoelectric Materials

[b]Provides in-depth knowledge on lead-free piezoelectrics – for state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly electrical and electronic devices![/b] Lead zirconate titanate ceramics have been market-dominating due to their excellent properties and flexibility in terms of compositional modifications. Driven by the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive, there is a growing concern on the toxicity of lead. Therefore, numerous research efforts were devoted to lead-free piezoelectrics from the beginning of this century. Great progress has been made in the development of high-performance lead-free piezoelectric ceramics which are already used, e.g., for power electronics applications. [i]Lead-Free Piezoelectric Materials[/i] provides an in-depth overview of principles, material systems, and applications of lead-free piezoelectric materials. It starts with the fundamentals of piezoelectricity and lead-free piezoelectrics. Then it discusses four representative lead-free piezoelectric material systems from background introduction to crystal structures and properties. Finally, it presents several applications of lead-free piezoelectrics including piezoelectric actuators, and transducers. The challenges for promoting applications will also be discussed. [b]Highly attractive:[/b] Lead-free piezoelectrics address the growing concerns on exclusion of hazardous substances used in electrical and electronic devices in order to protect human health and the environment [b]Thorough overview:[/b] Covers fundamentals, different classes of materials, processing and applications [b]Unique:[/b] discusses fundamentals and recent advancements in the field of lead-free piezoelectrics [i]Lead-Free Piezoelectric Materials[/i] is of high interest for material scientists, electrical and chemical engineers, solid state chemists and physicists in academia and industry.