Exploration of Structure-Property Relationships

Electrostriction and elasticity provide highly sensitive probes for the exploration of structure-property relationships. With the aid of modern high-resolution capacitive dilatometers reliable linear and quadratic electrostrictive constants can be determined. The unusual thickness dependence of the converse piezoelectric effect in α-quartz and the electrostrictive behavior of the alkali halides are presented as examples. The close correlations between elastic properties and crystal structures are reflected by several heuristic and empirical rules. Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) belongs to the most promising methods for the determination of elastic constants in the acoustic frequency regime. The potential of RUS for the simultaneous investigation of elastic and electrostrictive properties including electromechanical coupling effects is discussed.