The demand for new materials to be used in field-effect transistors and similar devices with low energy loss is more than ever before as integrated circuits have become a considerable source of energy consumption. One of the challenges in designing such energy efficient logic devices is finding suitable dielectric materials systems for the gate that controls the drain current in a p-type channe...

The dispersion of ferroelectric nanomaterials in liquid crystals has recently emerged as a promising way for the design of advanced and tunable electro-optical materials. The goal of this paper is a broad overview of the current technology, basic physical properties, and applications of ferroelectric nanoparticle/liquid crystal colloids. By compiling a great variety of experimental data and dis...

Continuing miniaturization of portable electronic and mechanical devices requires development of the novel nanoscale elements. This can be realized using ferroelectric materials, which exhibit a unique set of functional properties, including pyroelectricity, piezoelectricity, non-linear optical activity and others. These properties enable a wide range of practical applications from sensors and ...

Cross-coupling of ordering parameters in multiferroic materials by multiple external stimuli other than electric field and magnetic field is highly desirable from both practical application and fundamental study points of view. Recently, mechanical force has attracted great attention in switching of ferroic ordering parameters via electro-elastic coupling in ferroelectric materials. In this wor...

1 Abstract The general objective of the proposed research is to use ab initio techniques to develop a fundamental understanding of the relationship between the atomic and electronic structure of nanostructured materials and their functional properties. Our research will both expand upon the work performed in the past year using XSEDE resources and embark on the study of important new systems. I...

Understanding the microscopic processes affecting the bulk thermal conductivity is crucial to develop more efficient thermoelectric materials. PbTe is currently one of the leading thermoelectric materials, largely thanks to its low thermal conductivity. However, the origin of this low thermal conductivity in a simple rocksalt structure has so far been elusive. Using a combination of inelastic n...

The Inorganic Crystal Structure Database containg a total of 209 entries for 128 different materials reported in point group 4mm, of which eight are for previously known ferroelectrics. Analysis of the remaining entries, assuming the structure determinations reported are correct, leads to the prediction of an additional 43 new ferroelectric materials. 15 were determined in space group P4mm, 11 ...

High-resolution imaging of ferroelectric materials using piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) is demonstrated in an aqueous environment. The elimination of both long-range electrostatic forces and capillary interactions results in a localization of the ac field to the tip-surface junction and allows the tip-surface contact area to be controlled. This approach results in spatial resolutions appr...