Name: Cerullium phosphate Description: Cerullium phosphate is a compound with a crystal lattice similar to quartz. It has a chemical formula of Cer(PO4) and takes the appearance of a translucent pale cyan crystal, with the best synthetic crystals having very flat surfaces and sharp edges. Abilities: One of the most useful cerullium-based compounds, cerullium phosphate is the most efficient piezoelectric material ever discovered. It is slightly flexible, and applying a kinetic force onto it will cause it to output a voltage more efficiently than all other piezoelectric crystals, making it useful for applications that involve converting kinetic impacts or vibrations into usable electricity (it can also be placed inside of a spring). Because it is a piezoelectric material, the reverse can also be applied; when it is given current, it will produce a high amplitude, ultra high frequency vibration, allowing it to be used extensively in vibroblades as a high frequency oscillator. It can also be used to create very loud tone generators. Limitations: Not as strong as its base component, cerullium, having around the hardness of quartz. How does it work: Cerullium phosphate is a piezoelectric crystal similar to quartz, only much more efficient at converting any applied force into electric current or vice-versa. In real life, piezoelectric materials are used extensively, their primary use being found in highly accurate digital quartz clocks that oscillate a small quartz crystal at a very high frequency in order to tell the time. Piezoelectric crystals work by having a lattice structure where, when compressed, ions of opposite charges are separated from their base equal state, allowing the crystal to generate a potential electric difference (voltage.) With quartz, the positive ions are silicon, and the negative ions are oxygen. Cerullium naturally repels electric current, so any generated voltage is easily repelled out without much loss. In addition, since cerullium phosphate is slightly flexible, a greater volume of the crystal is compressed, allowing it to generate more current, or generate higher amplitude vibrations. Cerullium phosphate has a similar structure to berlinite (aluminum phosphate), which is also a piezoelectric crystal. Flavor text: There are a few methods used to synthesize cerullium phosphate. It is possible to find natural cerullium phosphate where cerullium metal ore is typically found (cerullium phosphate is actually one of the impure ores of cerullium), but the natural crystals, even cut and polished, are impossible to use as a piezoelectric crystal due to their impurities. Instead, cerullium phosphate is typically synthesized by introducing hydrated cerullium to concentrated phosphoric acid, dehydrating the hydrated cerullium phosphate, and then using a solution of water and cerullium phosphate to grow pure cerullium phosphate crystals. This process requires a solution and environment free of any impurities so that the crystal can be as pure as possible. Almost every vibroblade uses a crystal of cerullium phosphate to create the oscillations needed to assist its cutting power. Many gravitic weapons such as gravity hammers also use cerullium phosphate crystals to charge gravitic channels through kinetic force, allowing them to rely less on heavy batteries. Referenced Technologies: Cerullium codex Attainability: Open. Tags: [Industrial] Category: Materials
Hey, I'll be starting grading on this app today. About how much force would it take to allow the crystals to begin generating an electrical current, and about how much electricity would you say it puts out under so much force in whatever units you'd prefer? Just so you're aware for the purposes of this continuing more quickly, I would prefer that feats reachable by a character as far as physical force without proper assistance with certain tools and even then, highly specialized ones, remained majorly nonlethal on the electrical output. The same doesn't have to be said for, say, engines or other stationary mechanical pieces and such of course capable of producing a lot more physical stress in order to make it capable of doing so; I'd just prefer people not running around with tools to instakill people by tapping them anywhere with an electrified piece of metal or something, so keep that in mind.
Any amount of pressure on the crystals will cause them to generate a voltage, but even a significant impact will not generate a large enough spike of current to harm anybody, even if its AC current generated. Another thing to consider is that just squeezing it won't generate current, since it needs to be decompressed first (this is in line with how actual piezoelectric crystals work) As for specific numbers, it would be impossible to say since it depends on factors such as the force being applied to it, how fast the force is being applied (like a continuous compression or an impact), the surface area of the crystal, the surface area of the force being applied, and more. But generally, this can't produce any lethal wattage; the worse you might get from a significant impact might be a taze or something.
Fair enough. And this is a good addition to actually explaining more how some advanced weaponry works. I'm giving this its first pass.
