Nanostructures in Ferroelectric Films for Energy Applications: Grains, Domains, Interfaces and Engineering Methods presents methods of engineering nanostructures in ferroelectric films to improve their performance in energy harvesting and conversion and storage. Ferroelectric films, which have broad applications, including the emerging energy technology, usually consist of nanoscale inhomogeneities. For polycrystalline films, the size and distribution of nano-grains determines the macroscopic properties, especially the field-induced polarization response. For epitaxial films, the energy of internal long-range electric and elastic fields during their growth are minimized by formation of self-assembled nano-domains. This book is an accessible reference for both instructors in academia and R&D professionals. - Provides the necessary components for the systematic study of the structure-property relationship in ferroelectric thin film materials using case studies in energy applications - Written by leading experts in the research areas of piezoelectrics, electrocalorics, ferroelectric dielectrics (especially in capacitive energy storage), ferroelectric domains, and ferroelectric-Si technology - Includes a well balanced mix of theoretical design and simulation, materials processing and integration, and dedicated characterization methods of the involved nanostructures

Ferroelectric (FE) ceramics with a large relative dielectric permittivity and a high dielectric strength have the potential to store or supply electricity of very high energy and power densities, which is desirable in many modern electronic and electrical systems. For a given FE material, such as the commonly-used BaTiO3, a close interplay between defect chemistry, misfit strain, and grain characteristics must be carefully manipulated for engineering its film capacitors. In this work, the effects of grain orientation and morphology on the energy storage properties of BaTiO3 thick films were systematically investigated. These films were all deposited on Si at 500 °C in an oxygen-rich atmosphere, and their thicknesses varied between ~500 nm and ~2.6 μm. While a columnar nanograined BaTiO3 film with a (001) texture showed a higher recyclable energy density Wrec (81.0 J/cm3vs. 57.1 J/[email protected] MV/cm, ~40% increase) than that of a randomly-oriented BaTiO3 film of about the same thickness (~500 nm), the latter showed an improved energy density at a reduced electric field with an increasing film thickness. Specifically, for the 1.3 μm and 2.6 μm thick polycrystalline films, their energy storage densities Wrec reached 46.6 J/cm3 and 48.8 J/cm3 at an applied electric field of 2.31 MV/cm (300 V on 1.3 μm film) and 1.77 MV/cm (460 V on 2.6 μm film), respectively. This ramp-up in energy density can be attributed to increased polarizability with a growing grain size in thicker polycrystalline films and is desirable in high pulse power applications.

From everyday applications to the rise of automation, devices have become ubiquitous. Specific materials are employed in specific devices because of their particular properties, including electrical, thermal, magnetic, mechanical, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric. Materials for Devices discusses materials selection for optimal application and highlights current materials developments in gas sensors, optical devices, mechanoelectrical devices, and medical and biological devices. Explains how to select the right material for the right device Includes 2D materials, thin films, smart piezoelectric films, and more Presents details on organic solar cells Describes thin films in sensors, actuators, and LEDs Covers thin films and elastic polymers in biomedical devices Discusses growth and characterization of intrinsic magnetic topological insulators This work is aimed at researchers, technologists, and advanced students in materials and electrical engineering and related fields who are interested in developing sensors or devices.

The Electrocaloric Effect: Materials and Applications reviews the fundamentals of the electrocaloric effect, the most relevant electrocaloric materials, and electrocaloric measurements and device applications. The book introduces the electrocaloric effect, along with modeling and simulations of this effect. Then, it addresses the latest advances in synthesis, characterization and optimization of the most relevant electrocaloric materials, including ferroelectric materials, liquid materials, lead-free materials, polymers and composites. Finally, there is a review of the latest techniques in measurement and applications in refrigeration and cooling and a discussion of the advantages, challenges and perspectives of the future of electrocaloric refrigeration. - Provides a comprehensive introduction to the electrocaloric effect including experimental techniques to measure, model, and simulate the effect - Reviews the most relevant electrocaloric materials such as composites, polymers, metal oxides, ferroelectric materials, and more - Touches on the design and application of electrocaloric materials for devices with potential cooling and refrigeration applications

Functional Materials from Carbon, Inorganic and Organic Sources: Methods and Advances describes the basic principles, mechanisms and theoretical background of functional materials. Sections cover Carbon-based functional materials, Inorganic functional materials for renewable and sustainable energy applications, and Organic and biological based functional materials. Applications such as energy storage and conversion, electronic and photonics devices, and in medicine are also explored. Sections dive into photovoltaic devices, light emitting devices, energy storage materials and quantum dot devices, solar cell fundamentals and devices, perovskite materials and ceramic thin films. Final sections emphasize green approaches to synthesis in semiconductor nanoparticles, quinolone complexes, biomaterials and biopolymers. - Introduces the reader to a wide range of the most relevant functional materials, including carbon-based materials, inorganic materials for energy applications, and organic and biological based materials - Reviews the synthesis and characterization methods used to create, optimize and analyze functional materials properties - Discusses the use of functional materials to enable emerging technologies, along with remaining barriers to commercial adoption and opportunities

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 provides a comprehensive overview of engineering nanostructures mediated by functional polymers in combination with optimal synthesis and processing techniques. The focus is on polymer-engineered nanostructures for advanced energy applications. It discusses a variety of polymers that function as precursors, templates, nano-reactors, surfactants, stabilizers, modifiers, dopants, and spacers for directing self-assembly, assisting organization, and templating growth of numerous diverse nanostructures. It also presents a wide range of polymer processing techniques that enable the efficient design and optimal fabrication of nanostructured polymers, inorganics, and organic–inorganic nanocomposites using in-situ hybridization and/or ex-situ recombination methodologies. Combining state-of-the-art knowledge from polymer-guided fabrication of advanced nanostructures and their unique properties, it especially highlights the new, cutting-edge breakthroughs, future horizons, and insights into such nanostructured materials in applications such as photovoltaics, fuel cells, thermoelectrics, piezoelectrics, ferroelectrics, batteries, supercapacitors, photocatalysis, and hydrogen generation and storage. It offers an instructive and approachable guide to polymer-engineered nanostructures for further development of advanced energy materials to meet ever-increasing global energy demands. Interdisciplinary and broad perspectives from internationally respected contributors ensure this book serves as a valuable reference source for scientists, students, and engineers working in polymer science, renewable energy materials, materials engineering, chemistry, physics, surface/interface science, and nanotechnology. It is also suitable as a textbook for universities, institutes, and industrial institutions.