XVIII International Materials Reseach Congress
16-20 August 2009, Cancún, México

Symposium 24: and Piezoelectricity: Materials, Devices, and Applications

Meeting dates: 16-21 August 2009

This symposium, FERRO- and PIEZOELECTRICITY, provides an international, interdisciplinary forum for scientists and engineers from academia, industry, and national laboratories interested in the research, design, characterization, development, manufacturing, and applications/utilization of ferroelectric and piezoelectric materials. The purpose of this symposium is to cover a wide spectrum of research activities, from the basic science of ferro-piezoelectricity to technological applications in diverse fields. Additionally, this symposium serves to unite researchers from a broad range of disciplines to discuss the current state-of-the-art, issues, physics, chemistry, engineering, and future challenges as related to ferro-piezoelectric materials, components, structures, sensors and devices. Papers focusing on the understanding of ferro-piezoelectric materials utilizing theoretical, experimental and/or novel sophisticated characterization methods are an important theme in this symposium. In particular, the relationship between materials growth, microstructure, and the relation between microstructure and physical properties will be highlighted. The symposium program will consist of both oral and poster presentations with emphasis on, but not limited to, the topics listed below.

Symposium Organizers

TOPICS TO BE COVERED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

 1. Materials design, processing, and integration.
 2. Piezoelectric, pyroelectric, dielectric, electrical, optical, electrocaloric, magnetoelectric, magnetostrictive, electrostrictive, and ferroic properties.
 3. Structure investigations: Domains, defects, and doping; the relationship between materials growth, microstructure, and the relation between microstructure and physical properties.
 4. Theory and computer simulations.
 5. Multilayered ferroic heterostructures, functionally graded ferroics, multiferroics.
 6. Waves: ultrasound and microwaves.
 7. Thin film growth and substrates, integration issues.
 8. Polymers, liquid crystals, and other advanced systems.
 9. Ferroelectric relaxors, phase transitions, critical phenomena.
 10. Nano-sale technology and nano-phase materials, interface characterization and mechanisms, transport phenomena.
 11. Technological applications ranging from medicine to aerospace industry:

• Tunable high dielectric materials for high frequency applications
• Micro-electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS)
• Sensors, transducers, and Non-linear Optical Devices
• Ferroelectric memories
• Active/smart materials, vibration damping, actuators, artificial muscles, self assembled actuators and devices.

The importance of ferro-piezoelectric materials grows continuously at an international scale. In accordance, this symposium serves as a vehicle for exchanging information with colleagues from the most varied places, ranging from America to Australia. We hope that this meeting will facilitate technical interactions and the establishment of new collaborations.