This document compares piezoelectric, electromagnetic, and electrostatic devices. Piezoelectric devices have advantages like high output voltages and capacitances without needing precise gaps, but their materials are expensive. Electromagnetic devices can produce high output currents over long lifetimes but are inefficient at low frequencies and small sizes. Electrostatic devices allow for building low-cost systems and adjusting coupling coefficients, but have low capacitances and require controlling micrometer dimensions. Everyday applications of these principles include cell phones, printers, washing machines, induction cooktops, and fabric softener sheets.

1. Sources:
arpnjournals.org jeas research papers rp_2016; americanpiezo.com — Top uses of piezoelectricity in everyday applications;
sciencing.com — Devices use electromagnets; sciencing.co — What Electromagnets Used Everyday Life;
opentextbc.ca — Physicstestbook — “Applications of electrostatics”; haywardscience.weebly.com — Everyday Electrostatics
PIEZOELECTRIC
DEVICES
ELECTROMAGNETIC
DEVICES
ELECTROSTATIC
DEVICES
ADVANTAGES
• High-output voltages
• High capacitances
• No need to control gaps
• Small in size
• High-output currents
• Long useful life
• Rugged and durable
• High-output voltages
• Building low-cost
systems is possible
• Easily adjustable
coupling coefficient
• High coupling
coefficients achievable
• Size reduction
increases capacitances
DISADVANTAGES
• Expensive material
• Coupling coefficient
linked to material
properties
• Low-output voltages
• Difficult to produce
MEMS devices
• Material may be expensive
• Inefficient in low frequencies
and small sizes
• Low capacitances
• High impact of
parasitic capacitances
• Need to control
μm dimensions
• Lack of direct mechanical-
to-electrical conversion
for electret-free converters
EVERYDAY
APPLICATIONS
• Cell phones
• Diesel fuel injectors
• Grill igniters
• Certain printers
• Musical greeting cards
• Acoustic guitar pickups
• Ultrasonic transducers
• Vibration sensors
• Washing machines
• Garbage disposals
• Microwave ovens
• Induction cooktops
• Tape recorders
• VCRs/DVD players
• Doorbells
• Power tools
• Photocopiers
• Laser and inkjet printers
• Air cleaners/filters
• Electrostatic paint sprayers
• Fabric softener sheets
• Ultrasonic transducers
senscomp.com
PIEZOELECTRIC,
ELECTROSTATIC
& ELECTROMAGNETIC
— A COMPARISON —
DEVICES