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Chemistry

How the Wurtzite Structure of ZnO Gives Rise to Piezoelectricity

Quick fact

Zinc oxide's piezoelectricity is so strong that it is used in gas sensors and even in the 'sense of touch' of some microrobots—it can convert the tiny vibrations of a MEMS cantilever into a detectable electrical signal.

Why this is interesting

Squeeze a crystal of zinc oxide and it will generate a small electric voltage. But why should a simple squeeze create electricity? The answer lies in the crystal's internal architecture.