The Origins of the Dead-Layer in High Energy Storage Density Nanocapacitors

考虑以下几点：2.7 nm的钛酸锶薄膜的预期电容为每平方微米1600 fF。现实中可能的价值是多少？每平方米258平方英尺！电容的急剧下降归因于所谓的“死层”效应。在这项协作性的实验和计算研究中，我们试图了解“死层”的科学基础，并打破这一瓶颈，实现超高容量的纳米电容器。具有特殊设计接口(通过原子方法)的原型纳米电容器将在实验中制造。支撑界面作用的一些基本科学问题将通过制造超导电极来解决。该计划的预期好处将是教育和社会。在能量存储和纳米电子学方面的下一代进展需要在纳米级制造电容器。铁电等高介电常数材料是这些材料的重要候选者。最近的工作表明，尽管普遍认为相反，静电纳米电容器阵列也可以用于高能量存储密度，而不仅仅是高功率密度(即为汽车等大规模应用铺平道路)。教育的影响是，本科生和研究生都将接受新兴和跨学科研究的培训，这些研究属于材料科学、力学和物理学的交叉学科。这项资助特别强调高中生和本科生的研究经验，特别是女性学者的研究经验。研究成果将被纳入专门针对小学生的课程和单元，并通过会议报告、学术出版物和PI的网站广泛传播。

Consider the following: the expected capacitance of a 2.7 nm SrTiO3 thin film is 1600 fF per square micrometer. What is the likely value in reality? 258 fF per square micrometer! This dramatic drop in capacitance is attributed to the so-called "dead layer" effect. In this collaborative experimental and computational research we seek to understand the scientific underpinnings of the "dead-layer" and break that bottleneck to realize ultra-high capacity nano-capacitors. Prototype nano-capacitors with specifically designed interfaces (through atomistic methods) will be experimentally fabricated. Some of the basic scientific issues underpinning the role of interfaces will be addressed by fabricating super-conducting electrodes.The expected benefits of the program will be both educational and societal. Next generation advances in energy storage and nanoelectronics require capacitors fabricated at the nanoscale. High dielectric constant materials such as ferroelectrics are important candidates for those. Recent work has shown that, despite popular belief to the contrary, electrostatic nanocapacitor arrays can be used for high energy storage density as well and not just high power density (i.e. paving the way for large scale application such as automotive). The educational impact is that both undergraduate and graduate students will be trained in emerging and interdisciplinary research that falls at the intersections of materials science, mechanics, and physics. This grant puts specific emphasis on research experience for high school students and undergraduate students and in particular female scholars. Research findings will be incorporated into courses, modules specifically targeted towards grade school students, and broadly disseminated through conference presentations, scholarly publications, and the PI's websites.