Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2025
07:03
Measuring Magnetically-Tuned Ferroelectric Polarization in Liquid Crystals
Published on: August 15, 2018
8.7K
Ultrahigh electromechanical response from competing ferroic orders
Baichen Lin1,2, Khuong Phuong Ong3, Tiannan Yang4
1Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
Nature
|September 11, 2024
Summary
Researchers developed ultrahigh electromechanical response materials by combining competing antiferroelectric and ferroelectric orders. This novel approach in sodium niobate thin films achieves high piezoelectric coefficients for advanced electromechanical devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Solid State Chemistry
Background:
- Electromechanical coupling is vital for transducers and acoustic devices, converting mechanical and electrical energy.
- High electromechanical responses are typically linked to structural instabilities, achieved via morphotropic phase boundaries or nanoscale heterogeneity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a new strategy for achieving ultrahigh electromechanical response.
- To induce extreme structural instability by exploiting competing antiferroelectric and ferroelectric orders.
Main Methods:
- Guided by phase diagrams and theoretical calculations.
- Designed coexistence of antiferroelectric orthorhombic and ferroelectric rhombohedral phases in sodium niobate thin films.
Main Results:
- Achieved effective piezoelectric coefficients exceeding 5,000 pm/V.
- Observed ultrahigh electromechanical response due to electric-field-induced antiferroelectric-ferroelectric phase transitions.
Conclusions:
- The study presents a general approach to design and utilize antiferroelectric materials.
- This method enables the creation of materials with ultrahigh electromechanical response for electromechanical devices.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:31Ferromagnetism
2.4K
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...
2.4K
03:02Colors and Magnetism
11.6K
Color in Coordination Complexes
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human...
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human...
11.6K
01:28Types Of Superconductors
954
A superconductor is a substance that offers zero resistance to the electric current when it drops below a critical temperature. Zero resistance is not the only interesting phenomenon as materials reach their transition temperatures. A second effect is the exclusion of magnetic fields. This is known as the Meissner effect. A light, permanent magnet placed over a superconducting sample will levitate in a stable position above the superconductor. High-speed trains that levitate on strong...
954
02:58Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes
26.2K
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...
26.2K
01:22Motional Emf
3.2K
Magnetic flux depends on three factors: the strength of the magnetic field, the area through which the field lines pass, and the field's orientation with respect to the surface area. If any of these quantities vary, a corresponding variation in magnetic flux occurs. If the area through which the magnetic field lines are passing changes, then the magnetic flux also changes. This change in the area can be of two types: the flux through the rectangular loop increases as it moves into the...
3.2K
02:54Trends in Lattice Energy: Ion Size and Charge
23.8K
An ionic compound is stable because of the electrostatic attraction between its positive and negative ions. The lattice energy of a compound is a measure of the strength of this attraction. The lattice energy (ΔHlattice) of an ionic compound is defined as the energy required to separate one mole of the solid into its component gaseous ions. For the ionic solid sodium chloride, the lattice energy is the enthalpy change of the process:
23.8K