Characterization and manipulation of domain structures in lead-free ferroelectric single crystals produced by vertical Bridgman route

• Grant number: 24/13436-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: February 28, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: José Antonio Eiras
• Grantee: Thissiana da Cunha Fernandes
• Supervisor: Vladimir Shur
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Ural Federal University, Russia
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/03661-2 - Growth and characterization of lead-free piezoelectric single crystals, BP.DD

Abstract

In this research proposal for a short term research internship, it is proposed a deep investigation of the ferroelectric domain structures in soft piezoelectric lead-free (K,Na)NbO3-based single crystals produced by the vertical Bridgman-Stockbarger technique. In this way, domain structures will be characterized in the as-grown, thermal treated, unpoled and poled ferroelectric crystals by using the piezoresponse force and polarized light microscopies in different crystal directions. Based on the obtained experimental results, it is expected a qualitative and quantitative increment in the understanding of the domain structures and their respective switching kinetics, aiming to improve even more the piezoelectric and dielectric properties of the (K,Na)NbO3-based single crystals. Additionally, it is also aimed to train the PhD student, Thissiana, in the field of domain engineering and to establish an international cooperation with an advanced research center, aiming future co-fund collaborative research projects in the field of growth, characterization and phenomenological analysis of single crystals.