Flexible Ferroelectrics Bring Two Material Worlds Together
January 17, 2017 | Argonne National LaboratoryEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Until recently, “flexible ferroelectrics” could have been thought of as the same type of oxymoronic phrase. However, thanks to a new discovery by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory in collaboration with researchers at Northwestern University, scientists have pioneered a new class of materials with advanced functionalities that moves the idea from the realm of irony into reality.
A scanning electron microscopy image of flexible haloimidazole crystals, which were found to show both ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties. (Image by Seungbum Hong/Argonne National Laboratory.)
Ferroelectrics are a useful type of material that is found in capacitors that are used in sensors, as well as computer memory and RFID cards. Their special properties originate from the fact that they contain charged regions polarized in a specific orientation, which can be controlled with an external electric field. But they’ve also had a big drawback as engineers try to use them in new inventions.
“Ferroelectric materials are known for being quite brittle, and so it has always been a big challenge to make them mechanically flexible,” said Argonne nanoscientist Seungbum Hong, who helped to lead the research. “Because ferroelectricity and this kind of flexibility are relatively rare properties to see on their own, to have both ferroelectricity and flexibility in this new material is basically unprecedented.”
Previous generations of ferroelectric materials were primarily ceramic, Hong said, which made them fairly brittle. In the new material, the crystal planes at the atomic level tend to slip past one another, adding to the material’s ductility.
One advantage of flexible ferroelectrics comes from the fact that all ferroelectric materials are also piezoelectric, which means they can convert an applied mechanical force into an electrical signal, or vice versa; for example, when you flick a lighter to generate a spark. Having more flexible ferroelectrics could enable a greater response from a smaller input.
With flexible ferroelectrics, scientists and engineers may have the opportunity to adapt these materials for a host of new and improved uses, including precision actuators for atomic force microscopy, ultrasonic imaging sensors and emitters for medical applications and even sensors for some automotive applications.
For data storage, the impact may be even greater. “There’s a very large information density potential with ferroelectric storage,” Hong said. “This could make a big difference as we think about future generations of the data cloud.”
An article based on the research, “Flexible ferroelectric organic crystals,” was published online in Nature Communications in October. One of the lead Northwestern authors of the study, Sir Fraser Stoddart, received the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on molecular machines.
Suggested Items
LQDX Divests Aluminum Soldering Business - Mina™ - to Taiyo America Inc.
05/02/2024 | PRNewswireLQDX, formerly known as Averatek Corp., developer of high-performance materials for advanced semiconductor manufacturing, today announced that it has divested its aluminum soldering business – known as MinaTM – to Taiyo America Inc., a global market leader in advanced electronic materials.
Indium Corporation Expert to Present on Pb-Free Solder for Die-Attach in Discrete Power Applications
04/30/2024 | Indium CorporationIndium Corporation Product Manager – Semiconductor Dean Payne will present at the Advanced Packaging for Power Electronics conference, hosted by IMAPS, held May 8-9 in Woburn, Massachusetts, USA.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Adhesive Materials and Equipment Update with Dymax
05/01/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOVirginia Hogan, global business development manager at Dymax, discusses adhesive materials, dispensing and curing equipment, a new, high-reliability conformal coating, and various materials and dispensing methods.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Sustainability in the Industry
04/26/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOGuest Editor Henry Crandall and Chris Nash of Indium Corporation discuss the company's 90th anniversary and its focus on sustainability. They focus on the benefits of sustainable materials, their compatibility, and value propositions. The conversation also highlights how Durafuse LT technology's role in reducing reflow temperatures is leading to significant cost and energy savings. Nash also touches on downstream sustainability efforts such as using recycled materials for packaging.
SMC Korea 2024 to Highlight Semiconductor Materials Trends and Innovations on Industry’s Path to $1 Trillion
04/24/2024 | SEMIWith Korea a major consumer of semiconductor materials and advanced materials a key driver of innovation on the industry’s path to $1 trillion, industry leaders and experts will gather at SMC (Strategic Materials Conference) Korea 2024 on May 29 at the Suwon Convention Center in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea to provide insights into the latest materials developments and trends. Registration is open.