Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Xuhai Shi, Zhipeng Li, Zong-Yang Shen, Fusheng Song, Wenqin Luo, Xiaojun Zeng, Zhumei Wang, Yueming Li
Summary: By adjusting the Ba/Sr ratio, the structure and properties of B0.015+1.5xS0.245-1.5x square 0.03BNT ceramics can be improved, including higher polarization values and increased recoverable energy storage density.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xian-Jiang Song, Yu-An Xiong, Ru-Jie Zhou, Xiao-Xing Cao, Zheng-Yin Jing, Hao-Ran Ji, Zhu-Xiao Gu, Tai-Ting Sha, Ren-Gen Xiong, Yu-Meng You
Summary: This work demonstrates the achievement of large-area, periodic, and controllable needle-like domain structures in thin films of the molecular ferroelectric trimethylchloromethyl ammonium trichlorocadmium (TMCM-CdCl3) upon the application of tensile strain. The domain evolution under various tensile strains is observed, and the processes are identified. Additionally, the domain wall exhibits a superior piezoelectric response, with up to fivefold enhancement compared to that of the pristine samples. The large-area tunable periodic domain structure and abnormally strong piezoresponse are of great interest in fundamental studies and future applications in functional molecular materials.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Ivan S. Vorotiahin, Anna N. Morozovska, Eugene A. Eliseev, Yuri A. Genenko
Summary: The influences of misfit strain, surface screening charges, and flexoelectric effect on a rhombohedral lead zirconate titanate ferroelectric/ferroelastic thin film have been studied, with findings showing that the magnitude and sign of misfit strain affect domain structure and surface screening charges determine the presence of closure domain structures. The flexoelectric effect plays a significant role in topologically nontrivial structures.
ADVANCED ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yongjian Luo, Zhen Wang, Yu Chen, Minghui Qin, Zhen Fan, Min Zeng, Guofu Zhou, Xubing Lu, Xingsen Gao, Deyang Chen, Jun-Ming Liu
Summary: Ferroelectrics with negative capacitance effects can amplify the gate voltage in field-effect transistors for low power operation. The tuning of negative capacitance effect in ferroelectric KNbO3 through strain engineering is demonstrated, where the voltage reduction and negative slope in polarization-electric field curves can be controlled by imposing various epitaxial strains. Adjusting the negative curvature region in the polarization-energy landscape under different strain states is responsible for the tunable negative capacitance. This work paves the way for fabricating low-power devices and reducing energy consumption in electronics.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Xiaoqing Liu, Junhui Wang, Faling Ling, Lei Shen
Summary: By introducing ferroelectricity and utilizing the opto-electro-mechanical coupling effect, the light absorption capacity, photogenerated carrier separation, and carrier-driven forces of photocatalysts can be enhanced. Using the 2D ferroelectric material In2Se3 as an example, it was found that strain can adjust the bandgap for improved absorption and solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency, and can also change the polarization to selectively control water-splitting products. These findings provide a theoretical basis for designing and optimizing efficient 2D ferroelectric photocatalysts.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ran Su, Zhipeng Wang, Lina Zhu, Ying Pan, Dawei Zhang, Hui Wen, Zheng-Dong Luo, Linglong Li, Fa-tang Li, Ming Wu, Liqiang He, Pankaj Sharma, Jan Seidel
Summary: The study successfully enhanced the piezoelectricity of BaTiO3 nanoparticles by inducing heteroepitaxial strain through surface reconstruction, leading to significantly improved water-splitting activity. This approach offers a generic method for designing highly efficient piezoelectric nanomaterials and has potential applications in other perovskite oxides.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Wen Zhu, Fusheng Song, Zong-Yang Shen, Wenqin Luo, Zhumei Wang, Yueming Li
Summary: In this study, environmentally friendly ceramics with high energy storage stability and excellent performance were developed. The structure and properties were improved through co-modification. The optimized ceramics exhibited high dielectric constant and low loss at low electric field, and demonstrated good energy storage stability, making them suitable for low-voltage driven dielectric energy storage capacitors.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Wen Zhu, Huanhuan Guo, Zong-Yang Shen, Fusheng Song, Wenqin Luo, Zhumei Wang, Yueming Li
Summary: Nb2O5 was introduced to enhance the dielectric temperature stability of BNBST-based lead-free relaxor ferroelectric ceramics. The addition of Nb2O5 flattened the ε(r)-T curve and improved the dielectric temperature stability. BNBSTC + 2 wt%Nb2O5 ceramics exhibited a noticeable high recoverable energy storage density (1.44 J/cm(3)) with high-energy storage efficiency (84.1%) at a low electric field of 90 kV/cm, mainly due to a refined P-E loop induced by Nb2O5. This ceramic provides a new solution for designing pulsed power capacitors with high energy density and high temperature stability.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Zixiong Sun, Yuhan Bai, Jiaqi Liu, Gang Jian, Chen Guo, Lei Zhang, Yongping Pu
Summary: This paper introduces the strategy of interface engineering as a method to improve the performance of composite ferroelectric materials, and explores the methods and mechanisms of utilizing interfaces in different states of ferroelectric materials.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shiqi Xu, Xiaoming Shi, Hao Pan, Rongzhen Gao, Jing Wang, Yuanhua Lin, Houbing Huang
Summary: Using phase-field simulations, this study investigates the strain engineering of energy storage performance of binary and ternary solid solution relaxor ferroelectric films by designing polymorphic nanodomains. The results demonstrate that polymorphic nanodomains in the ternary film contribute to better energy storage performance compared to the binary film. Moreover, modifying the film's in-plane strain from -2% to 2% leads to an 80% improvement in energy density and an increase in efficiency from 52% to 77%.
ADVANCED THEORY AND SIMULATIONS
(2022)
Article
Crystallography
Sandwip K. Dey, Sudheendran Kooriyattil, Shojan P. Pavunny, Ram S. Katiyar, Guru Subramanyam
Summary: The study compared the microwave dielectric properties of BST-0.5 thin films on different substrates and found substrate-dependent dielectric relaxations at different frequencies. The findings were qualitatively interpreted using theoretical calculations and literature reports on microstructural effects. The defect parameter metric was estimated to be 0.51 at 40 GHz for BST-0.5 film on STO based on the Vendik and Zubko model.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
S. Gowthami, G. Anandha Babu, C. Manikandan, E. Varadarajan, R. M. Sarguna
Summary: PMINT ternary ceramics doped with Eu2O3 were prepared and showed enhanced piezoelectric and induced strain properties.
APPLIED PHYSICS A-MATERIALS SCIENCE & PROCESSING
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Xuhai Shi, Kai Li, Zong-Yang Shen, Junqi Liu, Chaoqun Chen, Xiaojun Zeng, Bo Zhang, Fusheng Song, Wenqin Luo, Zhumei Wang, Yueming Li
Summary: This work successfully combines the advantages of relaxor ferroelectric ceramics and glass-ceramics to develop a new dielectric material with high energy storage performance, which is of great significance.
JOURNAL OF ADVANCED CERAMICS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Thi Hinh Dinh, Jae-Shin Lee
Summary: An investigation on ternary lead-free Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-SrTiO3-ABO(3) piezoceramics reveals that the addition of ABO(3) affects the phase transition temperature and ferroelectric order of the materials. Microwave sintering method shows potential for creating lead-free piezoactuator materials with high performance.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jie Yao, Qiang Pan, Zi-Jie Feng, Yu-An Xiong, Tai-Ting Sha, Hao-Ran Ji, Zhu-Xiao Gu, Yu-Meng You
Summary: Ferroelectrics, especially hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite (HOIP) ferroelectrics, with their flexible structure, offer a new method for optimizing ferroelectric performance and bandgap. This Perspective systematically provides insight into the relationships between structure-property and bandgap of HOIP ferroelectrics, and discusses the challenges and directions for future semiconducting applications.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Wael Ben Taazayet, Ikbel Mallek Zouari, Nabil Hosni, Brahim Dkhil, Najeh Thabet Mliki
Summary: By tailoring a hydrothermal synthesis route, pure BiFeO3 and pure Bi2Fe4O9 single phases were successfully synthesized with different morphologies and sizes. The photocatalytic efficiency of Bi2Fe4O9 was significantly better than BiFeO3 under sunlight irradiation, attributed to its stronger absorption especially for higher energy light.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE-MATERIALS IN ELECTRONICS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mads C. Weber, Mael Guennou, Donald M. Evans, Constance Toulouse, Arkadiy Simonov, Yevheniia Kholina, Xiaoxuan Ma, Wei Ren, Shixun Cao, Michael A. Carpenter, Brahim Dkhil, Manfred Fiebig, Jens Kreisel
Summary: This article explores the phenomenon of spin-phonon coupling in SmFeO3. The study finds that a strong spin-phonon coupling effect occurs when both iron and samarium magnetic orders are present. This coupling is induced by the magnetism of iron rather than occurring spontaneously. The findings provide a new approach for discovering unknown properties.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Materials Science, Ceramics
Zechao Li, Jiacheng Yu, Shenglan Hao, Pierre-Eymeric Janolin
Summary: The substitution of aliovalent elements at either the A- or B-site of ferroelectric perovskites has a significant impact on their properties. Donor doping leads to softening of ferroelectrics, while acceptor doping results in hardening. This review focuses on doped-BaTiO3, a lead-free ferroelectric model, and examines the effects of aliovalent doping on its dielectric, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties, using Cu (acceptor) doping as an example.
JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN CERAMIC SOCIETY
(2022)
Correction
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Daniel S. P. Tanner, Eric Bousquet, Pierre-Eymeric Janolin
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Hiroshi Nakajima, Satoshi Hiroi, Hirofumi Tsukasaki, Charlotte Cochard, Florence Porcher, Pierre-Eymeric Janolin, Shigeo Mori
Summary: This study observed coexisting monoclinic structures and polar nanoregions near the Morphotrophic phase boundaries (MPBs) in Pb(Yb1/2Nb1/2)O-3-PbTiO3. The polar nanoregions in this material are randomly shaped and grow as the temperature decreases. Pair-distribution function analysis revealed a mixture of monoclinic Pm and Cm structures in the polar nanoregions without the rhombohedral structure found in other Pb-based relaxor solid solutions.
PHYSICAL REVIEW MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wafa Amdouni, Mojca Otonicar, Pascale Gemeiner, Vincent Butin, Nicolas Guiblin, Hager Maghraoui-Meherzi, Brahim Dkhil
Summary: The current methods for synthesizing perovskite oxide (ABO(3)) nanoparticles (NPs) have limitations such as high reagent costs and sophisticated equipment, long time and high-temperature processing, or multiple post-processing and thermal treatment steps. In this study, a facile low temperature chemical bath synthesis and one annealing step are used to produce high quality rare-earth-based REMO3 NPs. The versatility of this approach is demonstrated by synthesizing La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 solid solution and non-RE-based BiFeO3 perovskite. The as-prepared REFeO3 and REMnO3 NPs show high efficiency in the photocatalytic degradation of norfloxacin antibiotic, indicating their potential for practical applications.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hongbo Liu, Brahim Dkhil
Summary: This study investigates the key parameters triggering the polar transition in tetragonal tungsten bronze structures. The occupancy of specific sites by Sr plays a crucial role in this transition, accompanied by high entropy residual from randomness in cationic arrangement. These findings provide insights for understanding and predicting the emergence of the relaxor state in other crystalline structures.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Oana Condurache, Goran Drazic, Tadej Rojac, Hana Ursic, Brahim Dkhil, Andraz Bradesko, Dragan Damjanovic, Andreja Benc
Summary: The atomic-level response of zigzag ferroelectric domain walls was investigated using in situ bias scanning transmission electron microscopy. The position of the domain wall did not follow the strain field when the electric field was applied, which can be explained by low mobility defect segregation at the initial position of the domain wall. The triangular apex of the zigzag wall was pinned but changed its shape and became asymmetric under electrical stimuli.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Dennis P. P. Trujillo, Ashok Gurung, Jiacheng Yu, Sanjeev K. K. Nayak, S. Pamir Alpay, Pierre-Eymeric Janolin
Summary: A study combining data mining and first-principles computations has discovered a group of iodides, bromides, and chlorides with high electrostrictive coefficients and effective piezoelectric voltage coefficients.
NPJ COMPUTATIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Physics, Applied
N. Zeggai, B. Dkhil, M. LoBue, M. Almanza
Summary: A figure of merit is defined to assess the cooling efficiency of electrocaloric materials by considering both caloric properties and losses. A measurement setup based on flexible thermistances is used to directly measure the caloric effect and losses of P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) electrocaloric polymer films. The data, along with the figure of merit, are used to extrapolate the expected cooling efficiency of the studied EC material under actual working conditions. Dielectric losses are found to be a major limiting factor, and reducing material losses is identified as a key objective for optimizing EC refrigerants for cooling applications. Strategies towards loss reduction are outlined.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Minghai Yao, Arij Marzouki, Shenglan Hao, Samir Salmanov, Mojca Otonicar, Vincent Loyau, Brahim Dkhil
Summary: Magnetoelectric multiferroics have attracted much attention due to their potential applications in novel multifunctional devices. Compared to single-phase multiferroics, magnetoelectric composites have competitive advantages, and their coupling is influenced by composition and grain size. In this study, BFO/PZT composites were prepared via solid-state sintering, and the equal molar ratio composition showed a better magnetoelectric coupling response. The composites with nano bismuth ferrite and both nano/micro grain sizes exhibited the highest magnetoelectric voltage coefficients (<< E = 16.9 mV cm-1 Oe-1). The strain-mediated mechanism was confirmed by comparing the strain response and polarization of nano/micro composites with a composition ratio of 3:7.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Applied
Francesco Delodovici, Cassidy Atkinson, Ran Xu, Pierre-Eymeric Janolin, S. Pamir Alpay, Charles Paillard
Summary: The ability to control the optical properties of a material with an electric field has led to numerous applications such as optical memory devices, communication systems, optical signal processing, and quantum cryptography. Understanding electro-optic effects, especially in thin films, is crucial to improving the efficiency of these applications. This study demonstrates through first-principle calculations that the electro-optic response of certain ferroelectric materials is stable under bi-axial strain and can be enhanced through the electrical control of polarization. These findings have the potential to significantly impact the engineering of future technologies.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Kinnary Patel, Bin Xu, Sergey Prosandeev, Romain Faye, Brahim Dkhil, Pierre-Eymeric Janolin, Laurent Bellaiche
Summary: In this study, a novel atomistic effective Hamiltonian scheme is developed to investigate the temperature-dependent physical properties of the prototype antiferroelectric PbZrO3 (PZO) system. The scheme accurately reproduces the experimental features of the complex Pbam orthorhombic phase at low temperatures and the cubic paraelectric phase of Pm3 over bar m symmetry at high temperatures. Additionally, it predicts a novel intermediate state of Pbam symmetry, which exhibits a large dielectric response and thermal expansion consistent with experimental observations.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Matthieu Fricaudet, Katarina Ziberna, Samir Salmanov, Jens Kreisel, Delong He, Brahim Dkhil, Tadej Rojac, Mojca Otonicar, Pierre-Eymeric Janolin, Andraz Bradesko
Summary: Organic ferroelectrics, with their complementary properties to classical, inorganic ferroelectrics, are becoming increasingly important in various applications such as energy harvesting and storage due to their flexibility, chemical resistance, scalability, high breakdown fields, and biocompatibility. This study applies the well-established material's figures of merit to polyvinylidene-fluoride-based compositions of different ferroelectric behaviors to emphasize the key material parameters influencing the maximal power output of energy harvesting devices. Furthermore, the possibility of using the same functional material for energy storage in scalable multifunctional devices is discussed.
ACS APPLIED ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Sergey Prosandeev, Sergei Prokhorenko, Yousra Nahas, Yali Yang, Changsong Xu, Julie Grollier, Diyar Talbayev, Brahim Dkhil, L. Bellaiche
Summary: In this study, an atomistic first-principles-based effective Hamiltonian is used to investigate the response of the perovskite sodium niobate system, a prototype of antiferroelectric materials, to terahertz electric pulses. Hidden phases are discovered as a result of ultrafast field excitation, which are homogeneous in nature and correspond to local energy minima. These phases not only exhibit improved piezoelectric responses, but also possess controllable electric polarization, suggesting potential applications for ultrafast neuromorphic computing.