Thickness dependent piezoelectric response and its origin in the skin effect

Piezoelectric materials are used in a wide variety of applications, from piezoelectric nano-positioning systems to automotive fuel injection. To date, these applications have been nearly exclusively based on solid solutions of lead zirconate and lead titanate (PZT). Despite a number of advantages, the lead content makes both manufacturing and disposal of PZT hazardous to people and environment. Therefore, legislative conditions motivated research efforts into the development of a lead-free alternative. While many lead-free piezoelectric compositions exist, further enhancement of their properties through compositional engineering alone is unlikely to yield ongoing developments. These experiments will demonstrate the mechanism associated with sample thickness dependent enhancements in properties, that are a promising method for the ongoing development of lead-free piezoelectrics.