Block Lecture: Piezoelectric Properties of Lead-Free Ferroelectrics (Dr. Martin)

This course provides basic and latest information on the functional properties of ferroelectric materials, in which the orientation of spontaneous polarization changes with electric field, stress or temperature. In the first section, an introduction of their commercial applications available at present or projected in future is given to participants in order to adopt a back casting way of learning. Then, the second section of this course deals with the crystal chemistry of ferroelectric materials and differences in history and characteristics among lead-free based materials including (Na,K)NbO₃,(Ba,Ca)(Ti,Zr)O₃,(Na,Bi)TiO₃,BiFeO₃ perovskites and their relative compounds. In the third and fourth sections, the lecture is extended to cover the topics of important ferroelectric families including piezoelectrics which are polarized by stress, and pyroelectrics which hold spontaneous polarization without an external signal. In particular, participants can learn various synthesis and structure control techniques to engineer high-performance materials. The purpose and goal of this course is to understand the characteristics of ferroelectric materials as well as the ways of new material design, through lecture and group discussion.