Pseudo-piezoelectricity in calcium titanate – towards novel implant materials

Calcium titanate has an orthorhombic crystal structure and should not exhibit piezoelectric behavior. However, in the present study such behavior is observed in nanostructured calcium titanate prepared by sol–gel synthesis and field assisted sintering. This behavior is referred to as pseudo-piezoelectricity since it is generated by distorted structure. In-situ high-energy X-ray diffraction studies have been performed to investigate this behavior. Strain and defects in the nanostructured bulk material led to its piezoelectric response with non-180° domains reorientation and domains switching under external electric field. The piezoelectric constant is comparable with the piezoelectric constants of natural bone.