Piezoelectric devices have found a plethora of applications in automotive and manufacturing industries, medical diagnostics, as well as everyday commodities, such as cigarette lighters. Lead zirconate titanate (Pb(Zr_1-xTi_x)O₃, PZT) piezoceramics in particular have dominated the global market share for decades.

However, the hazard of lead and lead oxide during the use and disposal of PZT poses a threat to human health and the environment. Thus, along with the RoHS directive released by the European Parliament in 2006,¹ there have been increasing global endeavors toward lead-free piezoceramics as “greener materials.”