Hydrothermal synthesis of ABi2Ta2O9Aurivillius phase: A comparative study of A-site cation size on structure, dielectric, optical properties

In this study, the double-layered Aurivillius phases CaBi2Ta2O9 (CBT) and PbBi2Ta2O9 (PBT) were prepared through a hydrothermal route with NaOH as a mineralizer. XRD analysis confirmed that the CBT and PBT compounds were successfully formed and adopted an orthorhombic crystal structure with an [Formula: see text]21am symmetry. Le Bail refinements of XRD data indicated that the unit cell volume of CBT was smaller than PBT and is associated with the smaller ionic radius of Ca[Formula: see text] compared to Pb[Formula: see text]. The surface morphology of both samples, as determined using SEM, demonstrated plate-like grains with anisotropic grain growth. It was found that the different ionic radii of [Formula: see text]-site cations (Ca[Formula: see text] and Pb[Formula: see text] strongly affected the structural, optical and electrical properties of the Aurivillius phase. The occupation of smaller Ca[Formula: see text] cations induced a higher structural distortion, which resulted in higher bandgap ([Formula: see text] energy and ferroelectric transition temperature ([Formula: see text] of CBT, compared to those of PBT.

Progress in the Development of Single-Phase Magnetoelectric Multiferroic Oxides

Magnetoelectric (ME) multiferroics manifesting the coexistence and the coupling of ferromagnetic and ferroelectric order are appealing widespread interest owing to their fascinating physical behaviors and possible novel applications. In this review, we highlight the progress in single-phase ME multiferroic oxides research in terms of the classification depending on the physical origins of ferroic properties and the corresponding examples for each case, i.e., material by material, along with their ME multiferroic properties including saturation magnetization, spontaneous polarization, (anti)ferromagnetic/ferroelectric transition temperature, and ME coefficient. The magnetoelectrically-active applications of high expectancy are presented by citing the representative examples such as magnetoelectric random-access-memory and multiferroic photovoltaics. Furthermore, we discuss how the development of ME multiferroic oxides should proceed by considering the current research status in terms of developed materials and designed applications. We believe that this short review will provide a basic introduction for the researchers new to this field.

Local ferroelectric polarization switching driven by nanoscale distortions in thermoelectric $${\text {Sn}}_{0.7}{\text {Ge}}_{0.3}{\text {Te}}$$

A remarkable decrease in the lattice thermal conductivity and enhancement of thermoelectric figure of merit were recently observed in rock-salt cubic SnTe, when doped with germanium (Ge). Primarily, based on theoretical analysis, the decrease in lattice thermal conductivity was attributed to local ferroelectric fluctuations induced softening of the optical phonons which may strongly scatter the heat carrying acoustic phonons. Although the previous structural analysis indicated that the local ferroelectric transition temperature would be near room temperature in $${\text {Sn}}_{0.7}{\text {Ge}}_{0.3}{\text {Te}}$$ Sn 0.7 Ge 0.3 Te , a direct evidence of local ferroelectricity remained elusive. Here we report a direct evidence of local nanoscale ferroelectric domains and their switching in $${\text {Sn}}_{0.7}{\text {Ge}}_{0.3}{\text {Te}}$$ Sn 0.7 Ge 0.3 Te using piezoeresponse force microscopy(PFM) and switching spectroscopy over a range of temperatures near the room temperature. From temperature dependent (250–300 K) synchrotron X-ray pair distribution function (PDF) analysis, we show the presence of local off-centering distortion of Ge along the rhombohedral direction in global cubic $${\text {Sn}}_{0.7}{\text {Ge}}_{0.3}{\text {Te}}$$ Sn 0.7 Ge 0.3 Te . The length scale of the $${\text {Ge}}^{2+}$$ Ge 2 + off-centering is 0.25–0.10 Å near the room temperatures (250–300 K). This local emphatic behaviour of cation is the cause for the observed local ferroelectric instability, thereby low lattice thermal conductivity in $${\text {Sn}}_{0.7}{\text {Ge}}_{0.3}{\text {Te}}$$ Sn 0.7 Ge 0.3 Te .

Struktur dan Sifat Dielektrik Senyawa Aurivillius CaBi3LaTi4O15 yang Disintesis dengan Teknik Hidrotermal

Synthesis of four-layer Aurivillius CaBi3LaTi4O15 has been successfully carried out by hydrothermal technique using NaOH 4 M as mineralizer. The reaction was carried out at 220 °C for 72 h. Crystal structure, morphology, and dielectric properties were analyzed in this study. X-ray diffraction confirmed that the single-phase product was successfully obtained. The refinement result shows the product has orthorhombic crystal structure with space group A21am. The morphology analyzed using SEM shows plate-like grains are observed, which is characteristic of Aurivillius phase. Dielectric curves show peaks at 585 °C which indicate ferroelectric transition temperature.

Elastic and Dielectric Evaluation of the Piezoelectric Response of Ferroelectrics Using Unpoled Ceramics

The evaluation of the piezoelectric properties of ferroelectric ceramics generally has a high level of uncertainty, due to incomplete poling, porosity, domain wall clamping and other effects. In addition, the poling process is often difficult and dangerous, due to the risk of breaking or damaging the sample. A method is described for the evaluation of the potential intrinsic piezoelectric response that a ceramic would have after full poling, without poling it. The method relies on the fact that any material undergoes an elastic softening below the ferroelectric transition temperature, whose magnitude can be expressed in terms of the intrinsic piezoelectric and dielectric coefficients of the material. Such a softening is equivalent to an electromechanical coupling factor averaged over all the components, due to the unpoled state of the sample, and can be deduced from a single temperature scan of an elastic modulus of a ceramic sample, spanning the ferroelectric and paraelectric states. The strengths, limits and possible applications of the method are discussed.

Elastic and Dielectric Evaluation of the Piezoelectric Response of Ferroelectrics Using Unpoled Ceramics

The evaluation of the piezoelectric properties of ferroelectric ceramics generally has a high level of uncertainty, due to incomplete poling, porosity, domain wall clamping and other effects. In addition, the poling process is often difficult and dangerous, due to the risk of breaking or damaging the sample. A method is described for the evaluation of the potential intrinsic piezoelectric response that a ceramic would have after full poling, without poling it. The method relies on the fact that any material undergoes an elastic softening below the ferroelectric transition temperature, whose magnitude can be expressed in terms of the intrinsic piezoelectric and dielectric coefficients of the material. Such a softening is equivalent to an electromechanical coupling, averaged over all the components due to the unpoled state of the sample, and can be deduced from a single temperature scan of an elastic modulus of a ceramic sample, spanning the ferroelectric and paraelectric states. The strengths, limits and possible applications of the method are discussed.

Elastic and Dielectric Evaluation of the Piezoelectric Response of Ferroelectrics Using Unpoled Ceramics

The evaluation of the piezoelectric properties of ferroelectric ceramics generally has a high level of uncertainty, due to incomplete poling, porosity, domain wall clamping and other effects. In addition, the poling process is often difficult and dangerous, due to the risk of breaking or damaging the sample. A method is described for the evaluation of the potential intrinsic piezoelectric response that a ceramic would have after full poling, without poling it. The method relies on the fact that any material undergoes an elastic softening below the ferroelectric transition temperature, whose magnitude can be expressed in terms of the intrinsic piezoelectric and dielectric coefficients of the material. Such a softening is equivalent to an electromechanical coupling, averaged over all the components due to the unpoled state of the sample, and can be deduced from a single temperature scan of an elastic modulus of a ceramic sample, spanning the ferroelectric and paraelectric states. The strengths, limits and possible applications of the method are discussed.

Multiferroic Properties and Piezoelectric Characterizations of Bismuth Ferrite Based Compounds Produced by Spark Plasma Sintering

In this work, high dense, single phase ceramics of the 0.3BiFeO3 0.7BaTiO3 multiferroic solid solution were prepared by spark plasma sintering. The structural, microstructural, multiferroic and piezoelectric properties were investigated. The samples presented good magnetic and ferroelectric properties, Pr = 8.3 μC/cm2 and Mr = 0.03 emu/g, with low dielectric AC losses below the ferroelectric transition temperature. The obtained piezoelectric coefficients were determined as d31 = -8.1 pm/V and d33 = 13.5 pm/V.