Characterization of multiferroic nanostructured monoliths sintered via Spark Plasma Sintering - SPS

• Grant number: 22/00788-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: April 01, 2022
• End date: March 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: José Antonio Eiras
• Grantee: Murillo Rodrigues Silva
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/13769-1 - Multiferroic and ferroelectric materials for energy converters: synthesis, properties, phenomenology and applications, AP.TEM

Abstract

Multiferroic materials are those that have ordered subsystems (magnetic, ferroelectric and ferroelastic). The effects resulting from the interaction between these subsystems are of great interest both in fundamental research and in technological development. On the other hand, the need for miniaturization of electronic devices has aroused interest in investigating the effect of size and dimensionality on the properties of these subsystems and their interactions in nanometer-scale materials. Based on this premise, this project proposes to obtain monoliths of nanostructured multiferroic materials (in the form of a "bulk") and to investigate their properties with the evolution of the dimensional scale (from micro to nanometer). The materials that will be analyzed are lead iron niobate, Pb(Fe1/2Nb1/2)O3 (PFN) and lead iron titanate, Pb(FexTi1-x)O3 (PFTi) modified with SnO2, both multiferroic materials. . The powders will be obtained by the columbite method, followed by milling by the micro-milling technique in order to obtain particles with a suitable granulometric distribution for the processing of ceramic bodies with the desired microstructure. In turn, the microstructural control (combining high densification rates with the desired grain size) of the ceramic bodies will be carried out by sintering using the "Spark Plasma Sintering" (SPS) technique. Alternative techniques for the synthesis of nanostructured powders (such as combustion or chemical routes) and for the processing of ceramic bodies (such as microwave sintering, hot pressing and fast sintering) will be carried out in collaboration with other research groups at the team. Electrical, dielectric, ferroelectric, magnetoelectric, piezoelectric and photovoltaic characterizations will be analyzed in terms of factors such as dependence ontwograin (and/or dimensionality), to compare the results with current models or to propose new phenomenological models that describe the observed response. It should be noted that the SPS technique is already implemented in the Ferroic Materials Group and has presented promising results in the production of nanostructured materials. This project also intends to support the training of human resources in the area of nanostructured materials and nanotechnology. The project will be carried out in collaboration with other research groups, both belonging to the thematic project team, to which it is linked, and with other national and international groups. (AU)