Ferroelectricity is one of the most studied phenomena in the scientific community due the importance of ferroelectric materials in a wide range of applications including high dielectric constant capacitors, pyroelectric devices, transducers for medical diagnostic, piezoelectric sonars, electrooptic light valves, electromechanical transducers and ferroelectric random access memories. Actually the ferroelectricity at nanoscale receives a great attention to the development of new technologies. The demand for ferroelectric systems with specific applications enforced the in-depth research in addition to the improvement of processing and characterization techniques. This book contains twenty two chapters and offers an up-to-date view of recent research into ferroelectricity. The chapters cover various formulations, their forms (bulk, thin films, ferroelectric liquid crystals), fabrication, properties, theoretical topics and ferroelectricity at nanoscale.

The field of ferroelectricity has greatly expanded and changed in recent times. In addition to classical organic and inorganic ferroelectrics, new fields and materials, unknown or inactive 20 to 40 years ago, have appeared. They are important for both basic science and applications, and show technological promise for novel multifunctional devices. New fields include multiferroic magnetoelectric systems, where spontaneous polarization and spontaneous magnetization are allowed to coexist; incommensurate ferroelectrics, where the periodicity of the order parameter is incommensurate to the periodicity of the underlying basic crystal lattice; ferroelectric liquid crystals; dipolar glasses; relaxor ferroelectrics; ferroelectric thin films; nanoferroelectrics. These new fields are not only of basic physical interest, but also of great technological importance, allowing the design of new memory devices, spintronic applications, and the design of electro-optic devices. They are also important for applications in acoustics, robotics, telecommunications and medicine. The book is primarily intended for material scientists working in research or industry. It is also intended for graduate and doctoral students and can be used as a textbook in graduate courses. Finally, it should be useful for anybody interested in following the developments in modern solid state physics.

This comprehensive book covers recent developments in advanced dielectric, piezoelectric and ferroelectric materials. Dielectric materials such as ceramics are used to manufacture microelectronic devices. Piezoelectric components have been used for many years in radioelectrics, time-keeping and, more recently, in microprocessor-based devices. Ferroelectric materials are widely used in various devices such as piezoelectric/electrostrictive transducers and actuators, pyroelectric infrared detectors, optical integrated circuits, optical data storage and display devices.The book is divided into eight parts under the general headings: High strain high performance piezo- and ferroelectric single crystals; Electric field-induced effects and domain engineering; Morphotropic phase boundary related phenomena; High power piezoelectric and microwave dielectric materials; Nanoscale piezo- and ferroelectrics; Piezo- and ferroelectric films; Novel processing and new materials; Novel properties of ferroelectrics and related materials. Each chapter looks at key recent research on these materials, their properties and potential applications.Advanced dielectric, piezoelectric and ferroelectric materials is an important reference tool for all those working in the area of electrical and electronic materials in general and dielectrics, piezoelectrics and ferroelectrics in particular. - Covers the latest developments in advanced dielectric, piezoelectric and ferroelectric materials - Includes topics such as high strain high performance piezo and ferroelectric single crystals - Discusses novel processing and new materials, and novel properties of ferroelectrics and related materials

Combining both fundamental principles and real-life applications in a single volume, this book discusses the latest research results in ferroelectrics, including many new ferroelectric materials for the latest technologies, such as capacitors, transducers and memories. The first two chapters introduce dielectrics and microscopic materials properties, while the following chapter discusses pyroelectricity and piezoelectricity. The larger part of the text is devoted to ferroelectricity and ferroelectric ceramics, with not only their fundamentals but also applications discussed. The book concludes with a look at the future for laser printed materials and applications. With over 600 references to recent publications on piezoelectric and ferroelectric materials, this is an invaluable reference for physicists, materials scientists and engineers.

Discovered in 1880, piezoelectric materials play a key role in an innovative market of several billions of dollars. Recent advances in applications derive from new materials and their development, as well as to new market requirements. With the exception of quartz, ferroelectric materials are used for they offer both high efficiency and sufficient versatility to meet adequately the multidimensional requirements for application. Consequently, strong emphasis is placed on tailoring materials and technology, whether one deals with single crystals, ceramics or plastic materials. Tailoring requires a basic understanding of both physical principles and technical possibilities and limitations. This report elucidates these developments by a broad spectrum of examples, comprising ultrasound in medicine and defence industry, frequency control, signal processing by SAW-devices, sensors, actuators, including novel valves for modern motor management. It delivers a mutual fertilization of technology push and market pull that should be of interest not only to materials scientists or engineers but also to managers who dedicate themselves to a sound future-oriented R&D policy.

This is the first comprehensive book on ferroelectric memories which contains chapters on device design, processing, testing, and device physics, as well as on breakdown, leakage currents, switching mechanisms, and fatigue. State-of-the-art device designs are included and illustrated among the books many figures. More than 500 up-to-date references and 76 problems make it useful as a research reference for physicists, engineers and students.

Provides a comprehensive overview of the emerging applications of ferroelectric materials in energy harvesting and storage Conventional ferroelectric materials are normally used in sensors and actuators, memory devices, and field effect transistors, etc. Recent progress in this area showed that ferroelectric materials can harvest energy from multiple sources including mechanical energy, thermal fluctuations, and light. This book gives a complete summary of the novel energy-related applications of ferroelectric materials?and reviews both the recent advances as well as the future perspectives in this field. Beginning with the fundamentals of ferroelectric materials, Ferroelectric Materials for Energy Applications offers in-depth chapter coverage of: piezoelectric energy generation; ferroelectric photovoltaics; organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites for solar energy conversion; ferroelectric ceramics and thin films in electric energy storage; ferroelectric polymer composites in electric energy storage; pyroelectric energy harvesting; ferroelectrics in electrocaloric cooling; ferroelectric in photocatalysis; and first-principles calculations on ferroelectrics for energy applications. -Covers a highly application-oriented subject with great potential for energy conversion and storage applications. -Focused toward a large, interdisciplinary group consisting of material scientists, solid state physicists, engineering scientists, and industrial researchers -Edited by the "father of integrated ferroelectrics" Ferroelectric Materials for Energy Applications is an excellent book for researchers working on ferroelectric materials and energy materials, as well as engineers looking to broaden their view of the field.

This book presents the basic physical properties, structure, fabrication methods and applications of ferroelectric materials. These are widely used in various devices, such as piezoelectric/electrostrictive transducers and actuators, pyroelectric infrared detectors, optical integrated circuits, optical data storage, display devices, etc. The ferroelectric materials described in this book include a relatively complete list of practical and promising ferroelectric single crystals, bulk ceramics and thin films. Included are perovskite-type, lithium niobate, tungsten-bronze-type, water-soluable crystals and other inorganic materials, as well as organic ferroelectrics (polymers, liquid crystals, and composites). Basic concepts, principles and methods for the physical property characteristics of ferroelectric materials are introduced in the first two chapters for those readers new to the subject of ferroelectricity. Not only professional researchers and engineers but also students and other readers who have limited physical knowledge and an interest in ferroelectrics, will welcome this book.

Dielectrics is becoming increasingly important due to the rapid developments in electronics, optoelectronics, photonics and nanotechnology. In the past two decades, research on advanced dielectric materials and related applications has undergone an accelerated growth, due in larger part to the discovery of the superior piezoelectric properties in relaxor single crystals, the development of the lead-free piezoelectric/ferroelectric materials and the renaissance of the multiferroics. This book contains 9 feature articles which, together, provide a comprehensive account on the current state of advanced dielectrics and related phenomena. The first two articles present fundamental knowledge related to the characterization of ferroelectric hysteresis, which is the most widely used method to learn the ferroelectricity experimentally. The latest research progress in relaxor ferroelectric is given in the next two articles. The last five articles are dedicated to the multi-functionality of advanced dielectrics, with emphasis on multiferroic magnetoelectric composites, lead-free piezoceramics, pyroelectric/electrocaloric materials, polymer-based dielectrics, and flexible nanodielectrics.

Ferroelectric materials have been and still are widely used in many applications, that have moved from sonar towards breakthrough technologies such as memories or optical devices. This book is a part of a four volume collection (covering material aspects, physical effects, characterization and modeling, and applications) and focuses on the application of ferroelectric devices to innovative systems. In particular, the use of these materials as varying capacitors, gyroscope, acoustics sensors and actuators, microgenerators and memory devices will be exposed, providing an up-to-date review of recent scientific findings and recent advances in the field of ferroelectric devices.