Bismuth layer-structured ferroelectrics with high Curie temperatures have recently attracted significant attention as promising candidates for high-temperature piezoelectric applications. However, the conventional solid-state reaction method entails high-temperature processing that induces bismuth volatilization, thereby degrading device reliability. In this study, we employed a co-precipitation method enabling atomic-level mixing to significantly lower the synthesis temperature of Nb/Tadoped Bi4Ti3O12 ceramics compared to the solid-state reaction method. Experimental results demonstrated that the coprecipitation method yielded a pure single phase at 600℃ without intermediate phases. Furthermore, the synthesized nanopowders, with an average size of 100 nm, lowered the onset temperature of sintering shrinkage to 650℃, approximately 200℃ lower than that of the solid-state counterpart. The low-temperature synthesis process proposed in this work is expected to contribute to the performance enhancement of high-temperature piezoelectric devices by effectively suppressing bismuth volatilization and ensuring compositional stability.
Understanding the structure-property relationship in functional materials is crucial as microstructural features such as nano-precipitates, phase boundary, grain boundary segregation, and grain boundary phases play a key role in their functional properties. Atom probe tomography (APT) is an advanced analytical technique that allows for the three-dimensional (3D) mapping of atomic distributions and the precise determination of local chemical compositions in materials. Moreover, it offers sub-nanometer spatial resolution and chemical sensitivity at the tens of parts per million (ppm) level. Owing to its unique capabilities, this technique has been employed to uncover the 3D elemental distributions in a wide range of materials, including alloys, semiconductors, nanomaterials, and even biomaterials. In this paper, various kinds of examples are introduced for elucidating structure-property relationships on functional materials by utilizing the atom probe tomography.
Ni-rich cathode materials have been developed as the most promising candidates for next-generation cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries because of their high capacity and energy density. In particular, the electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries could be enhanced by increasing the contents of nickel ion. However, there are still limitations, such as low structural stability, cation mixing, low capacity retention and poor rate capability. Herein, we have successfully developed the nanorod-type Ni-rich cathode materials by using co-precipitation method. Particularly, the nanorod-type primary particles of LiNi0.7Co0.15Mn0.15O2 could facilitate the electron transfer because of their longitudinal morphology. Moreover, there were holes at the center of secondary particles, resulting in high permeability of the electrolyte. Lithium-ion batteries using the prepared nanorod-type LiNi0.7Co0.15Mn0.15O2 achieved highly improved electrochemical performance with a superior rate capability during battery cycling.
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Thermal Stability of NCM622 Cathode Material for Li-ion Batteries: A Real-time Synchrotron X-ray Scattering Study Seung-Han Lee, Tae-Sik Cho Journal of Electrical and Electronic Materials.2026; 39(4): 394. CrossRef
This study investigated crystal structures, microstructures, and electric-field-induced strain (EFIS) properties of Bibased lead-free ferroelectric/relaxor composites. Bi1/2(Na0.82K0.18)1/2TiO3 (BNKT) as a ferroelectric material and 0.78Bi1/2(Na0.78K0.22)1/2TiO3-0.02LaFeO3 (BNKT2LF) as a relaxor material were synthesized using a conventional solid-state reaction method, and the resulting BNKT2LF powders were subjected to high-energy ball milling (HEBM) after calcination. As a result, HEBM proved a larger average grain size of sintered samples compared to conventional ball milling (CBM). In addition, the increased sintering time led to grain growth. Furthermore, HEBM treatment and sintering time demonstrated a significant effect on EFIS of BNKT/BNKT2LF composites. At 6 kV/mm, 0.35% of the maximum strain (Smax) was observed in the HEBM sample sintered for 12 h. The unipolar strain curves of CBM samples were almost linear, indicating almost no phase transitions, while HEBM samples displayed phase transitions at 5~6 kV/mm for all sintering time levels, showing the highest Smax/Emax value of 700 pm/V. These results indicated that HEBM treatment with a long sintering time might significantly enhance the electromechanical strain properties of BNT-based ceramics.
As the recent climate problems are getting worse year after year, the demands for clean energy materials have highly increased in modern society. However, the candidate material classes for clean energy expand rapidly and the outcomes are too complex to be interpreted at laboratory scale (e.g., multicomponent materials). In order to overcome these issues, the firstprinciples calculations are becoming attractive in the field of material science. The calculations can be performed rapidly using virtual environments without physical limitations in a vast candidate pool, and theory can address the origin of activity through the calculations of electronic structure of materials, even if the structure of material is too complex. Therefore, in terms of the latest trends, we report academic progress related to the first-principles calculations for design of efficient electrocatalysts. The basic background for theory and specific research examples are reported together with the perspective on the design of novel materials using first-principles calculations.
In this study, to develop angle ring pressboards for high voltage transformers, the radius and thickness are modified under the conditions of temperature and humidity. In particular, a pressboard with a thickness of 6 mm and a radius at the angled part were investigated based on the simulation of the principal stress from the angled optimization profile shape. As a result, by the appropriate application of a higher temperature, the solid insulation can be improved to reduce the moisture content for an optimized profile angle of a high voltage transformer. This also results in the improvement of the safety factor by 25%. It is determined that the electrical insulation properties of pressboards in high voltage transformers can be enhanced by improving their properties.
(YNdSm)-Ba-Cu-O system high Tc composite superconductors were directionally grown by zone melting process, having large temperature gradient, in air atmosphere. Cylindrical green rods of (YNdSm)1.8Ba2.4Cu3.4Ox [(YNS)1.8]composite oxides by CIP (cold isostatic pressing) method using rubber mold were fabricated. Themicrostructure and superconducting properties were investigated by XRD, TEM and SQUID magnetometer. The size of nonsuperconducting (YNdSm)2BaCuO5 inclusions of the melt-textured (YNS)1.8 sample with CeO2 additive were remarkably reduced and uniformly distributed within the superconducting (YNS)1.8 matrix. (YNS)1.8 samples, with / without CeO2 additive, showed an onset Tc ≥ 90 K and sharp superconducting transition. The critical current density Jc value of the (YNdSm)1.8 superconductor with CeO2 additive were 840 A, 1.2×104 A/cm2 in 77 K, 0Tesla by direct current transport method.
Nano-size BaTiO3 powder was synthesized by relatively simple hydrothermal reaction method. Finely dispersed Ti hydroxide precursor was first precipitated using Ti(SO4)2 and NaOH solution by applying ultrasonic power and washed thoroughly to remove SO4 2- and Na+ ion. Then hydrothermal reaction was done at 160℃ for 6 hrs using solution prepared by washed Ti hydroxide precursor slurry and Ba(OH)2ㆍ8H2O with Ti:Ba mole ratio of 1:1. 200 ~ 500 nm size and uniform size distributed BaTiO3 powder was synthesized by relatively low temperature and simple process.
New material design has obtained tremendous attention in material science community as the performance of new materials, especially in nano length scale, could be greatly improved to applied in modern industry. In certain conditions limiting experimental synthesis of these new materials, new approach by computer simulation has been proposed to be applied, being able to save time and cost. Recent development of computer systems with high speed, large memory, and parallel algorithms enables to analyze individual atoms using first principle calculation to predict quantum phenomena. Beyond the quantum level calculations, mesoscopic scale and continuum limit can be addressed either individually or together as a multi-scale approach. In this article, we introduced current endeavors on material design using analytical theory and computer simulations in multi-length scales and on multi-physical properties. Some of the physical phenomena was shown to be interconnected via a cross-link rule called ``cross-property relation``. It is suggested that the computer simulation approach by multi-physics analysis can be efficiently applied to design new materials for multi-functional characteristics.
In this paper a novel method based on geometrical optics proposed to calculate the optical characteristics of an electric field driven liquid crystal (ELC) lens. For an optimally designed ELC lens, effective refractive index is calculated and then ray tracing is carried out using Huygens′ principle. From the results, the intensity distribution at the optimum viewing distance (OVD) is obtained. To confirm the validity of our work, the result is compared with that calculated by the extended Jones matrix method (EJMM). As a result, it turns out that the novel method provides more simple and rigorous simulation results than the EJMM.
In this study, [Li0.04(Na0.5K0.5)0.96](Nb0.86Ta0.10Sb0.04)O3 + xSrO (x=0, 0.0025, 0.005, 0.0075) ceramics were synthesized by the conventional mixed oxide method. The X-ray diffraction patterns demonstrated that ceramics possessed single perovskite structure. The SEM images indicate that microstructure can be obviously affected by a small amount of added SrO. The phase transition temperature tetragonal-cubic(T(c)) and orthorhombic -tetragonal(T(o-t)) shifts downward and upward with the increase of Sr addition, respectively. The excellent piezoelectric properties of d33=170[pC/N], k(p)=0.37, Q(m)=64.12, T(o-t)=153℃ and T(c)=370℃ were obtained from the 0.25 mol% Sr added ceramics sintered at 1,120℃ for 1 h.
A highly strained nanostructure comprising crystallographically aligned HgTe nanoinclusions and a surrounding PbTe matrix has been synthesized using a precipitation process of supersaturated HgTe-PbTe alloys. From the early precipitation stage, HgTe nanoinclusions take disk shape, which is transformed from initial HgTe nuclei, although there is no lattice constant difference of the two end components at standard state. As a primary reason for the morphological transformation of the initial spherical HgTe nuclei to HgTe nanodisks, the induced lattice mismatch is suggested. On the condition that the HgTe nanodisks maintain perfect coherent nature with PbTe matrix, the stress-free lattice constant of constrained HgTe nanodisks has been calculated based on the defined concept of the strain-induced tetragonality, the linear elasticity and the actual measurement in HRTEM images.
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