New Frontiers in Multifunctional Materials: Design, Synthesis and Nanostructure-Property Relations

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Designing and discovering novel materials plays a crucial role in the advancement of technology. Of particular interest is the class of multifunctional materials that exhibit interesting properties including dielectric, piezoelectric, ferroelectric, and magnetoelectric. These materials are highly demanded in a vast range of industrial and commercial applications and are applicable to devices from sonars to solar panels. This proposal is aimed to take on the emerging challenges in this field. The overall objective of our research program is to design, synthesize and characterize new inorganic solid state materials which exhibit multifunctional properties, and to provide a better understanding of the relationship between inhomogeneous nanostructures and enhanced macroscopic properties. The technical aspect of our program include: i) synthesis of new materials that exhibit inter-couplings between key physical quantities, such as electro-mechanical, magneto-electric, and electro-caloric effects; ii) development of high Curie-temperature (Tc) and high-performance piezo-/ferroelectric materials; iii) preparation of environmentally friendly lead-ree piezo-/ferroelectric materials and hybrid perovskite halides with characteristics suitable to have them replace their lead-based counterparts in electromechanical transducers and optoelectronic devices; and lastly, iv) characterization of structures and physical properties of the materials synthesized in order to gain new insights into the relationship between crystal chemistry, nanostructure and multifunctional properties. This research program will advance functional materials science and engineering by applying novel crystal chemistry concepts to the design of new high performance multiferroic materials, by synthesizing the new materials using different approaches and techniques, and by characterizing the new material's structures and properties. In general, this research will enrich our knowledge in materials chemistry and crystal physics by providing a better understanding of the nanostructure property relations of complex functional materials. It will also explore and evaluate the potential applications of multifunctional materials in advanced technologies, such as energy harvesting, conversion and storage; smart sensing and actuating; high-density memory and micro-electronic devices for big data processing; high-resolution ultrasonic probes for improved medical imaging, diagnosis and therapy; and high-sensitivity and high-power sonar for underwater detection and communication. These efforts will contribute to the advancements and innovations in energy, environment, health, defense and standards of living. Another important aspect of this research program is to provide great opportunities for training highly qualified personnel through its interdisciplinary nature.