EPSRC logo

Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/F006098/1
Title: Nanostructure in Functional Ceramics
Principal Investigator: Reaney, Professor IM
Other Investigators:
Sinclair, Professor D Rainforth, Professor WM
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Materials Science and Engineering
Organisation: University of Sheffield
Scheme: Standard Research
Starts: 01 October 2007 Ends: 31 March 2011 Value (£): 606,845
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Materials Characterisation
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
13 Apr 2007 Materials Prioritisation Panel April 07 Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
The functional properties of many ceramics are controlled principally by displacements of ions which create small electric dipoles across the unit cells of certain types of oxides. However, in order for these electric dipoles to affect the bulk properties, they must be cooperative, i.e. the displacemetns must occur in the same direction for at least several tens of unit cells. Functional properties are tailored for a specific application by modifying the direction and length over which the dipoles are cooperative as well as the temperature at which they occur (Tc). In ceramic capacitors which act as rf filters, a mesoscale heterogeneous distribution of dopants modifies the magnitude, direction and onset temperature of the dipoles, preventing the filter frequency from changing significantly with temperature. In piezoelectric ceramics, a nanoscale mixture of monoclinic, tetragonal and rhombohedral phases in which the direction/magnitude of the dipoles differs in each structure, optimises the charge/displacement produced. This programme aims to investigate the local nanostructure of ceramics using advanced analystical instrumentation and determine its relation to bulk properties (permittivity, dielectric loss, piezoelectricity). This understanding will be used to improve performance and develop new functional ceramics.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Summary
Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:  
Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.shef.ac.uk