The focus of this project is the investigation of lead-free ferroelectrics films for energy conversion applications using aerosol deposition (AD). During deposition, micron-sized particles are accelerated through a nozzle by a carrier gas into a vacuum chamber. The particles impact a substrate, breaking apart and forming a dense (>96 %) ceramic film at room temperature with an exceptionally high deposition rate. Because AD is a room temperature process, deposition of metallic, ceramic, semi-conductor, glass, or plastic particles on various substrates is possible. This is not achievable with other film deposition techniques requiring high temperature densification. Multi-layer composite structures consisting of alternating layers of different materials (2-2 connectivity) (Figure 1a) or mixed composite structures (0-3 connectivity) as well as porous films structures can also be produced, which could be used to optimize electromechanical properties or build-in additional functionalities.
Figure 1. (a) BaTiO3/SrTiO3 composite on Pt-electroded Si-wafer and a (b) porous BaTiO3 film on a steel substrate.
The primary research goal is the improved understanding of the deposition of lead-free ferroelectric films for energy conversion applications using AD. Methods to thermally, chemically, and microstructurally tune the residual stress in the films will also be investigated, in addition to enhancement in electromechanical coupling using ceramic/ceramic composites and novel 3D film structures. In this project, novel high throughput ceramics processing methods will be used to investigate the role of stoichiometry on the deposition of photo-electro-mechancial materials.
Principal Investigators
 |
Prof. Dr. Kyle G. Webber Institute of Glass and Ceramics Materials Science Department Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg kyle.g.webber@fau.de |
 |
Prof. Dr. Ken-ichi Kakimoto Life Science and Applied Chemistry Department Frontier Research Institute for Materials Science Nagoya Institute of Technology kakimoto.kenichi@nitech.ac.jp |
 |
Dr. Alexander Martin Biochemistry and Applied Chemistry Department Environmental Ceramics Division Nagoya Institute of Technology martin.alexander@nitech.ac.jp |
Doctoral Researchers
 |
Michel Kuhfuß, M.Sc. Institute of Glass and Ceramics Materials Science Department Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg michel.kuhfuss@fau.de |
 |
Takumi Nozaki, M.Sc. Joint Degree Program in Energy Conversion Systems Nagoya Institute of Technology, Japan t.nozaki.974@stn.nitech.ac.jp |
Junior/Co-Professors:
Prof. Dr. Daisuke Urushihara (NITech)