pyroelectricity
/ˌpaɪroʊɪlɛkˈtrɪsɪti/
noun
- The property of certain crystals and materials to generate an electric charge when heated or cooled.
- Pyroelectricity is used in motion sensors to detect the presence of people or animals.
- The discovery of pyroelectricity in certain ceramics led to new types of thermal detectors.
- Students learned about pyroelectricity by experimenting with a special crystal in the lab.