MUZIC
Multimodal characterisation of barium titanate piezoelectric nanocrystals
Among ferroelectric materials, barium titanate perovskite (BaTiO3 – BTO) is well known for displaying many interesting properties arising from the presence of a spontaneous electrical polarization, including photocatalysis and improvement of the capacity of batteries; piezoelectricity, which has led to the development of nanoelectromechanical systems for energy harvesting; but also frequency conversion (second harmonic generation – SHG) or optical modulation finding applications in optoelectronics. In technological applications requiring miniaturisation, BTO is used in thin films or nanostructures form.
Recent observations of exotic polarization in ferroelectrics at low dimensions (some made by the MUZIC partners), request a deeper understanding of BTO nanocrystal internal structure to be able to optimise their integration into devices. To this aim we will implement a multimodal characterisation at the single nanocrystal scale, coupling optical characterisation (SHG and Raman spectroscopy) with local probes, relying specifically on electrical atomic force microscopy (AFM) modes, from piezoelectric force microscopy to conductive AFM and Kelvin probe force microscopy.
MUZIC brings together experts with highly complementary skills: optics physicists (SPEC & LuMIn), material scientists (SPMS, GeePs), a scientist expert in energy generation nanodevice development (C2N), and a theoretician (international partner). The comparison of the simulations with the experimental data will provide an in-depth understanding of the structure-properties relationships and enable us to define the key parameters for optimising the nanoBTO electromechanical properties for their further optimal use in energy management devices.
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