Flexoelectricity in Ceramics and their Application

Book excerpt: Flexoelectricity is the ability of materials to generate a voltage when they are bent or, conversely, to bend under voltage. Flexoelectricity can be present in all materials; however, the magnitude of the flexoelectric coefficients is so small that flexoelectricity is virtually imperceptible on the human scale. The book's objective is to look at the flexoelectric effect in ceramics for various applications point of view such as sensor, actuator and energy harvesting etc. It briefly discusses the flexoelectric effect theories and models with the latest development in this field. Several methods are discussed to increase the flexoelectric effect in ferroelectric and other ceramics. It focused on the latest development in various possible applications such as flexopyroelectric, flexocaloric and nano energy generators. Apart from these, it will also discuss the inverse flexoelectric effect, flexoelectric effect in 2D materials, ambiguities and controversies in this field. This book resolved many questions related to flexoelectricity and made significant discoveries with profound implications beyond flexoelectricity, in such diverse areas as caloric or MEMS devices, etc. It covers the most recent breakthroughs in nano-generator, composite-based ceramics to maximize energy harvesting and storage. Therefore, this book will be handy for a researcher working in this direction of ceramics and can be a reference book for allied specializations. It will open a new approach to using the flexoelectric effect in various ceramics and varieties of applications. - Provides an in-depth study of the flexoelectric effect of a broad range of ceramic materials - It updates the state of art progress that has been done in the area of flexoelectric-based energy harvesting via nano-generator or nanocomposites of ceramics - Provides most recent advancement in the area of lead-free, lead-based ceramics, 2D material, flexocaloric and flexopyroelectric applications - The inverse flexoelectric effect is discussed in detail, which helps newcomers and expert researchers, scientists, and engineers working in this field - Includes an evaluation of ambiguities and controversies about the flexoelectric effect