text: The piezoelectrochemical transducer effect (PECT) is a coupling between the electrochemical potential and the mechanical strain in ion-insertion-based electrode materials. It is similar to the piezoelectric effect – with both exhibiting a voltage-strain coupling - although the PECT effect relies on movement of ions within a material microstructure, rather than charge accumulation from the polarization of electric dipole moments.
  Many different materials have been shown to exhibit a PECT effect including: lithiated graphite.; carbon fibers inserted with lithium, sodium, and potassium; sodiated black phosphorus; lithiated aluminium; lithium cobalt oxide; vanadium oxide nanofibers inserted with lithium and sodium; and lithiated silicon.  
  These materials all exhibit a voltage-strain coupling, whereby the material expands when it is charged with ions, and contracts when it is discharged. The reverse is also true: when applying a mechanical strain the electrical potential changes.
  This has led to various proposals of applications for the PECT effect with research focusing on actuators, strain-sensors, and energy harvesters.