Giant piezoelectricity of Sm-doped Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 -PbTiO 3 single crystals

Samarium supersensors Piezoelectric materials produce electric charge in response to changes in stress and are thus good sensor materials. One challenge has been growing single-crystal piezoelectrics with uniform properties. As of now, much of the crystal is discarded because of compositional variations. Li et al. synthesized single crystals of samarium-doped Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 -PbTiO 3 that have uniform and extremely high piezoelectric properties (see the Perspective by Hlinka). These crystals are ideal for a variety of sensing applications and could reduce cost by eliminating waste. Science , this issue p. 264 ; see also p. 228