The first observation of piezoelectricity was in 1880, during an experiment by brothers Pierre Curie and Jacques Curie. Their initial hypothesis derived from their knowledge of pyroelectricity, which is a tangential phenomenon of electrical potentials being formed when materials are brought to a higher or lower temperature.

The Curie brothers combined this with their understanding of crystal structures & behavior to demonstrate piezoelectricity by using crystals of tourmaline, quartz, topaz, cane sugar, and Rochelle salt. Their initial experiment showed that quartz and Rochelle salt exhibited the most piezoelectric ability at the time.

From its first practical applications in creating sonar technologies for submarines during World War I, to modern implementations in most digital watches, the piezoelectric effect has nearly limitless uses!