A complete and comprehensive study of transport phenomena in thin continuous metal films, this book reviews work carried out on external-surface and grain-boundary electron scattering and proposes new theoretical equations for transport properties of these films. It presents a complete theoretical view of the field, and considers imperfection and impurity effects.

Thin films of conducting materials, such as metals, alloys and semiconductors are currently in use in many areas of science and technology, particularly in modern integrated circuit microelectronics that require high quality thin films for the manufacture of connection layers, resistors and ohmic contacts. These conducting films are also important for fundamental investigations in physics, radio-physics and physical chemistry. Physical Properties of Thin Metal Films provides a clear presentation of the complex physical properties particular to thin conducting films and includes the necessary theory, confirming experiments and applications. The volume will be an invaluable reference for graduates, engineers and scientists working in the electronics industry and fields of pure and applied science.

Due to their high energy conversion efficiencies and low emissions, Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) show promise as a replacement for combustion-based electrical generators at all sizes. Further increase of SOFC efficiency can be achieved by microstructural optimization of the oxygen-ion conducting electrolyte and the mixed ionic-electronic conducting cathode. By application of nanoscaled thin films, the exceptionally high efficiency allows the realization of mobile SOFCs.

This book presents the recent advances in the field of nanoscale science and engineering of ferroelectric thin films. It comprises two main parts, i.e. electrical characterization in nanoscale ferroelectric capacitor, and nano domain manipulation and visualization in ferroelectric materials. Well known le'adingexperts both in relevant academia and industry over the world (U.S., Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Korea) were invited to contribute to each chapter. The first part under the title of electrical characterization in nanoscale ferroelectric capacitors starts with Chapter 1, "Testing and characterization of ferroelectric thin film capacitors," written by Dr. I. K. Yoo. The author provides a comprehensive review on basic concepts and terminologies of ferroelectric properties and their testing methods. This chapter also covers reliability issues in FeRAMs that are crucial for commercialization of high density memory products. In Chapter 2, "Size effects in ferroelectric film capacitors: role ofthe film thickness and capacitor size," Dr. I. Stolichnov discusses the size effects both in in-plane and out-of-plane dimensions of the ferroelectric thin film. The author successfully relates the electric performance and domain dynamics with proposed models of charge injection and stress induced phase transition. The author's findings present both a challenging problem and the clue to its solution of reliably predicting the switching properties for ultra-thin ferroelectric capacitors. In Chapter 3, "Ferroelectric thin films for memory applications: nanoscale characterization by scanning force microscopy," Prof. A.