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Piezoelectricity is the charge that accumulates in certain solid materials (notably crystals, certain ceramics, and biological matter such as bone, DNA and various proteins) in response to applied mechanical stress. The word piezoelectricity means electricity resulting from pressure.

Piezoelectricity is found in useful applications such as the production and detection of sound, generation of high voltages, electronic frequency generation, microbalances, and ultrafine focusing of optical assemblies. It is also the basis of a number of scientific instrumental techniques with atomic resolution, the scanning probe microscopies such as STM, AFM, MTA, SNOM, etc., and everyday uses such as acting as the ignition source for cigarette lighters and push-start propane barbecues.

Piezoelectric ceramics are members of the group of fine ceramics. When piezoelectric ceramics are struck, they momentarily emit a high-voltage current. Conversely, when an electric potential is applied to piezoelectric ceramics, they expand or contract. Ceramics that have the ability to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy and vice versa are piezoelectric ceramics. The most commonly used piezoelectric ceramic is also know as PZT which is Lead zirconate titanate (Pb[ZrxTi1−x]O3 0≤x≤1).

The common usage of piezoelectric ceramics include High Voltage and Power Sources, Sensors, Actuators, Piezoelectric Motors, Reduction of Vibration and Noise etc. Examples include,

High Voltage and Power Sources: Electric cigarette lighter, Piezoelectric transformer

Sensors: Piezoelectric microphones, Industrial nondestructive testing, Detection and Generation of sonar waves, Power monitoring in high power applications, Piezoelectric microbalances, Piezoelectric transducers, acoustic emission testing

Actuators: Loudspeakers, Piezoelectric motors, Atomic force microscopes, Inkjet printers, X-ray shutters, XY stages for micro scanning

etc

With reference to: Wikipedia Piezoelectricity