Annual Report 2012 - Latvijas Universitātes Cietvielu fizikas institūts

DEPARTMENT OF FERROELECTRICS
Head of Department, Dr.phys. V.Dimza
Reaearch areas
LABORATORY OF PHYSICS AND APPLICATION OF
FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
Head of Laboratoy Dr.habil.phys. V.Dimza
LABORATORY OF SYNTESIS AND PROCESSING
Head of Laboratory M.chem. M.Antonova
Methods:
1) Production of new ferroelectric materials by modification of known ferroelectric
compounds by doping with monoxides, developing binary or multicomponent solid
solutions:
−
complex lead-containing perovskite family with general chemical
formulas PbB’ 1/2 B’’ 1/2 O 3 (where B’=Sc +3 , Lu +3 , Yb +3 , Tm +3 etc.; B ’’ = Nb +5 , Ta +5 ) and
PbB’ 1/3 B” 2/3 O 3 , (where B’=Mg +2 , Zn +2 , Ni +2 , Cd +2 etc., B”- Nb +5 , Ta +5 and etc);
−
modified (Pb,La)(Zr,Ti)O 3 (PLZT);
− lead-free perovskite ceramics based on (K 0.5 Na 0.5 )NbO 3 , (Na 0.5 Bi 0.5 )NbO 3 ,
or BaTiO 3 ;
Investigation of kinetic parameters of synthesis and sintering proceses
2)X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, piezo-response force microscopy, electron
scanning microscopy with EDX option, EPR and Raman spectroscopies, dielectric
impedance and hysteresis measurement tools, ellipsometry and reflectometry techniques;
3) Investigation using synchrotron radiation based methods.
Properties: electromechanical properties; piezoelectric properties and field induced
deformation, electrocaloric effect, thermal expansion, optical (absorbtion, luminiscence),
magnetic properties, electronic structure;
Materials: Large variety of ferroelectric compositions, thin films, multiferroic
materials, inorganic functional and nanomaterials;
Problems: Phase transitions (including field-induced ferroelectric phase transitions)
and ordering effects in “ordinary” ferroelectrics and ferroelectric relaxors along with
new compositions (including 3d elements doping of ABO3 perovskites); replacement of
lead-containing materials in various applications
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