Defining "Giant" Electrostriction

TL;DR

This paper reviews the concept of giant electrostriction, proposing a new empirical definition, and analyzes existing materials to assess their potential for advanced electromechanical applications.

Contribution

It introduces a new empirical criterion for defining giant electrostriction and reviews existing materials to evaluate their performance and challenges.

Findings

Identification of key materials satisfying the giant electrostriction criteria

Comparison of performances among giant electrostrictors

Discussion of hurdles to practical adoption

Abstract

The recent discovery of giant electrostrictors has re-ignited the interest in electrostriction, an electromechanical coupling existing in all dielectrics but overshadowed by its linear counterpart: piezoelectricity. In this review, after a reminder of classical electrostriction, we propose a definition of giant electrostriction based on two empirical relations (Newnam relation and one we propose). From this definition, we review previous reports on giant electrostrictors, to assess their nature. Focusing on the ones satisfying our definition, we compare their performances and characteristics. We also identify some of the hurdles to their adoption in the wide range of electromechanical applications, despite their fundamental and applicative interests.