Nanostructures in Ferroelectric Films for Energy Applications: Domains, Grains, Interfaces and Engineering Methods

Nanostructures in Ferroelectric Films for Energy Applications: Grains, Domains, Interfaces and Engineering Methods presents methods of engineering nanostructures in ferroelectric films to improve their performance in energy harvesting and conversion and storage. Ferroelectric films, which have broad applications, including the emerging energy technology, usually consist of nanoscale inhomogeneities. For polycrystalline films, the size and distribution of nano-grains determines the macroscopic properties, especially the field-induced polarization response. For epitaxial films, the energy of internal long-range electric and elastic fields during their growth are minimized by formation of self-assembled nano-domains. This book is an accessible reference for both instructors in academia and R&D professionals.

Provides the necessary components for the systematic study of the structure-property relationship in ferroelectric thin film materials using case studies in energy applicationsWritten by leading experts in the research areas of piezoelectrics, electrocalorics, ferroelectric dielectrics (especially in capacitive energy storage), ferroelectric domains, and ferroelectric-Si technologyIncludes a well balanced mix of theoretical design and simulation, materials processing and integration, and dedicated characterization methods of the involved nanostructures

1. Introduction 2. Ferroelectric thin films and nanostructures: current and future 3. Self-assembled polydomain structures and domain engineering 4. Phase-field modeling for elastic domain engineering applications 5. Nanograins in ferroelectric films 6. Interface engineering of ferroelectric thin-film heterostructures 7. Low-temperature processing of ferroelectric thin films on Si substrates 8. Fundamentals of piezoelectric thin films for microelectromechanical systems 9. Electrocaloric effect in polycrystalline ferroelectrics and its measurement methods 10. Recent progress in ferroelectric thin film capacitors for high density energy storage 11. Analysis of ferroelectric nanostructures—microscopic methods 12. Analysis of ferroelectric nanostructures—spectroscopic methods/second harmonic generation polarimetry