Consider quartz, SiO₂. In its non-stressed state, the ions are in positions which do not allow any net dipole moment to be formed.

The structure of quartz is shown below:

In quartz, there are tetrahedra of O atoms around Si atoms, which are able to twist and change shape when a stress is applied. The change in their position leads to the formation of net dipole moments as seen in the piezoelectric dipole moment section.

A tetrahedra of O atoms around a Si atom is marked within the quartz structure below:

The dipole moment appears in every unit cell in the crystal and causes polarisation.

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