Visiting Researcher Support for Prof Nagarajan Valanoor (University of New South Wales)

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This proposal seeks funding to support Professor Nagarajan Valanoor to spend 3 months (October-December 2010) as a visiting researcher in Queen's University Belfast, and work in collaboration with Professor JM Gregg's nanoscale ferroelectrics activity.Prof Nagarajan is acknowledged internationally as an expert in nanoscale ferroelectrics, with particular expertise in thin film growth, nanoscale patterning and domain imaging using piezo-force microscopy (PFM). His knowledge, experience and interests are strongly aligned with those of the nanoscale ferroelectrics group in Queen's University Belfast (QUB), and his stay in QUB should be extremely useful both in terms of helping to accelerate progress in ongoing research, and in terms of performing preliminary work for potential future collaborative programmes. During his visit, we wish to pursue three themes of common interest:(i) PFM imaging of domain configurations in ferroelectric nanoshapes (contributing to a current EPSRC-funded programme: EP/F004869/1 Investigating the fabrication and dipole characteristics of complex ferroelectric nanoshapes );(ii) Modification of the PFM system at QUB to allow dynamical studies of switching in ferroelectric nanoshapes;(iii) Preliminary exploration of potential flexoelectric polarisation nanodevices.