Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 24, 2026
08:55
Methods of Ex Situ and In Situ Investigations of Structural Transformations: The Case of Crystallization of Metallic Glasses
Published on: June 7, 2018
9.0K
Heterogeneous grain-scale response in ferroic polycrystals under electric field
John E Daniels1, Marta Majkut2, Qingua Cao1
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, UNSW Australia, Sydney NSW 2052, Australia.
Scientific Reports
|March 10, 2016
Summary
Researchers used 3D X-ray diffraction (3D-XRD) to study ferroelectric domain switching in polycrystalline ceramics. Individual grain behavior deviates from averages due to local heterogeneities, but these effects average out across multiple grains.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Crystallography
Background:
- Understanding ferroic properties in polycrystalline materials is challenging due to limitations in probing individual grain behavior.
- Grain boundaries and clusters significantly influence ferroic property coupling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate ferroelectric domain switching at the individual grain scale within bulk polycrystalline electro-ceramics.
- To identify factors influencing domain switching behavior and deviations from average properties.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a variant of three-dimensional X-ray diffraction (3D-XRD) to resolve non-180° ferroelectric domain switching strain components.
- Analyzed data from 191 individual grains in a polycrystalline electro-ceramic undergoing electric-field-induced phase transformation.
Main Results:
- Grain orientation significantly impacts phase and domain texture, but substantial deviations from average behavior were observed at the grain scale.
- Local strain and electric field heterogeneities within the polycrystal contribute to these deviations.
- Deviations at the grain scale were found to average out over approximately 10-20 grains.
Conclusions:
- Individual grain behavior in ferroic polycrystalline materials is highly heterogeneous.
- Local microstructural environments significantly influence ferroic property coupling.
- Results offer crucial insights for modeling ferroic materials at the grain scale.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:31Ferromagnetism
3.5K
Materials like iron, nickel, and cobalt consist of magnetic domains, within which the magnetic dipoles are arranged parallel to each other. The magnetic dipoles are rigidly aligned in the same direction within a domain by quantum mechanical coupling among the atoms. This coupling is so strong that even thermal agitation at room temperature cannot break it. The result is that each domain has a net dipole moment. However, some materials have weaker coupling, and are ferromagnetic at lower...
3.5K
02:58Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes
31.7K
Crystal Field Theory
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...
31.7K
01:26Electric Field at the Surface of a Conductor
5.6K
Consider a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium. The net electric field inside a conductor vanishes, and extra charges on the conductor reside on its outer surface, regardless of where they originate.
In the 19th century, Michael Faraday conducted the famous ice pail experiment to prove that the charges always reside on the surface of a conductor. The experimental set-up consists of a conducting uncharged container mounted on an insulating stand. The outer surface of the container is...
In the 19th century, Michael Faraday conducted the famous ice pail experiment to prove that the charges always reside on the surface of a conductor. The experimental set-up consists of a conducting uncharged container mounted on an insulating stand. The outer surface of the container is...
5.6K
01:17Theory of Metallic Conduction
1.9K
The conduction of free electrons inside a conductor is best described by quantum mechanics. However, a classical model makes predictions close to the results of quantum mechanics. It is called the theory of metallic conduction.
In this theory, Newton's second law of motion is used to determine the acceleration of an electron in the presence of an applied electric field. Then, its velocity is expressed via this acceleration.
An electron moves through the crystal, containing positive ions,...
In this theory, Newton's second law of motion is used to determine the acceleration of an electron in the presence of an applied electric field. Then, its velocity is expressed via this acceleration.
An electron moves through the crystal, containing positive ions,...
1.9K
02:46Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes
49.5K
Tetrahedral Complexes
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than the dxy,...
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than the dxy,...
49.5K
01:20Electric Field Inside a Conductor
7.8K
When a conductor is placed in an external electric field, the free charges in the conductor redistribute and very quickly reach electrostatic equilibrium. The resulting charge distribution and its electric field have many interesting properties, which can be investigated with the help of Gauss's law.
Suppose a piece of metal is placed near a positive charge. The free electrons in the metal are attracted to the external positive charge and migrate freely toward that region. This region then...
Suppose a piece of metal is placed near a positive charge. The free electrons in the metal are attracted to the external positive charge and migrate freely toward that region. This region then...
7.8K