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'Instant on' computing
April 20, 2009Materials researchers say rebooting soon may be a thing of the past
The ferroelectric materials found in today's "smart cards" used in subway, ATM and fuel cards soon may eliminate the time-consuming booting and rebooting of computer operating systems by providing an "instant-on" capability as well as preventing losses from power outages.
Ferroelectric materials provide low-power, high-efficiency electronic memory. Smart cards use the technology to instantly reveal and update stored information when waved before a reader. A computer with this capability could instantly provide information and other data to the user.
Researchers led by Cornell University materials scientist Darrell Schlom took strontium titanate, a normally non-ferroelectric variant of the ferroelectric material used in smart cards, and deposited it on silicon--the principal component of most semiconductors and integrated circuits--in such a way that the silicon squeezed it into a ferroelectric state.
"It's great to see fundamental research on ordered layering of materials, or epitaxial growth, under strained conditions pay off in such a practical manner, particularly as it relates to ultra-thin ferroelectrics" said Lynnette Madsen, the NSF program director responsible for the Nanoscale Interdisciplinary Research Team award.
The result could pave the way for a next-generation of memory devices that are lower power, higher speed and more convenient to use. For everyday computer users, it could mean no more waiting for the operating system to come online or to access memory slowly from the hard drive.
"Several hybrid transistors have been proposed specifically with ferroelectrics in mind," said Schlom. "By creating a ferroelectric directly on silicon, we are bringing this possibility closer to realization."
More research is needed to achieve a ferroelectric transistor that would make "instant on" computing a reality, but having the materials in direct contact, free of intervening reaction layers, is an important step.
National Science Foundation
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Vise squad: Putting the squeeze on a crystal leads to novel electronics
A clever materials science technique that uses a silicon crystal as a sort of nanoscale vise to squeeze another crystal into a more useful shape may launch a new class of electronic devices that remember their last state even after power is turned off.
Domain Walls that Conduct Electricity
The logic and memory functions of future electronic devices could shrink dramatically - to one or two nanometers (billionths of a meter) instead of the many tens of nanometers that characterize today's most advanced elements - if a way can be found to control domain walls, the ultrathin transition zones that separate regions of a material having different magnetic, electric, or other properties.
Capture of nanomagnetic 'fingerprints' a boost for next-generation information storage media
In the race to develop the next generation of storage and recording media, a major hurdle has been the difficulty of studying the tiny magnetic structures that will serve as their building blocks.
Polymer electric storage, flexible and adaptable
The proliferation of solar, wind and even tidal electric generation and the rapid emergence of hybrid electric automobiles demands flexible and reliable methods of high-capacity electrical storage. Now a team of Penn State materials scientists is developing ferroelectric polymer-based capacitors that can deliver power more rapidly and are much lighter than conventional batteries.
Disorder enables extreme sensitivity in piezoelectric materials
A research team working at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has found an explanation for the extreme sensitivity to mechanical pressure or voltage of a special class of solid materials called relaxors.
The solution to a 7-decade mystery is crystal-clear to FSU chemist
A Florida State University researcher has helped solve a scientific mystery that stumped chemists for nearly seven decades. In so doing, his team's findings may lead to the development of more-powerful computer memories and lasers.
Landmark Modeling Study at Penn Reveals How Ferroelectric Computer Memory Works
A collaboration of University of Pennsylvania chemists and engineers has performed multi-scale modeling of ferroelectric domain walls and provided a new theory of behavior for domain-wall motion, the "sliding wall" that separates ferroelectric domains and makes high-density ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM) possible.
Colluding with colloids: Scientists make liquid crystal discovery
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Principles and Applications of Ferroelectrics and Related Materials (Oxford Classic Text in the Physical Sciences) by M. E. Lines (Author), A. M. Glass (Author) Standard text for studying ferroelectric and pyroelectric devices. Develops the modern theory of ferroelectricity in terms of soft modes and lattice dynamics, covering modern techniques of measurement such as x-ray, optic, and neutron scattering. First published in 1977. Softcover. |
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Ferroelectric Crystals by Franco Jona (Author), G. Shirane (Author) | |
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Physics of Ferroelectrics: A Modern Perspective (Topics in Applied Physics) by Karin M. Rabe (Author), Karin M. Rabe (Editor), Charles H. Ahn (Editor), Jean-Marc Triscone (Editor) During the past two decades, revolutionary breakthroughs have occurred in the understanding of ferroelectric materials, both from the perspective of theory and experiment. First principles approaches, including the Berry phase formulation of ferroelectricity, now allow accurate, quantitative predictions of material properties, and single crystalline thin films are now available for fundamental studies of these materials. In addition, the need for high dielectric constant insulators and nonvolatile memories in semiconductor applications has motivated a renaissance in the investigation of these materials. This book addresses the paradigmatic shifts in understanding brought about by these breakthroughs, including the consideration of novel fabrication methods of single crystalline... |
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Ferroelectric Polymers (Plastics Engineering, No 28) by Hari Singh Nalwa (Editor) Reflecting the explosion of information in the science of polar polymers--in both novel materials and industrial applications -- this outstanding reference covers the chemistry and physics of polymeric materials and their uses in the fields of electronics, photonics, and biomedical engineering. |
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Fatigue in Ferroelectric Ceramics and Related Issues (Springer Series in Materials Science, Volume 61) by Lupascu Doru C. (Author) A major barrier to the introduction of ferroelectric devices into mass markets remains their limited reliability due to fatigue. The underlying physical and chemical mechanisms of this material fatigue phenomenon are extremely complex, and the relevant influences range from single-point defects to macroscopic boundary conditions. This book summarizes the different aspects of fatigue in ferroelectrics. It is primarily concerned with bulk material effects. Mechanical, electrical, and physico-chemical processes are described; reference data are given for different loading regimes and boundary conditions; and various fatigue models are compared. The monograph also demonstrates how the results of acoustic emission and of microscopy studies reveal the microscopic origins of fatigue in... |
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The Applications of Ferroelectric Polymers by J. M. Herbert (Author), T. T. Wand (Author), A. M. Glass (Author) | |
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Ferroelectrics in Microwave Devices, Circuits and Systems: Physics, Modeling, Fabrication and Measurements (Engineering Materials and Processes) by Spartak Gevorgian (Author) Today’s wireless communications and information systems are heavily based on microwave technology, as are an increasing number of other industry sectors. Extensive research has been carried out into the development of new technologies to meet the increasingly complex requirements of such systems. Among these new technologies agile (tuneable, reconfigurable, and adaptable) microwave components based on ferroelectric materials, have great potential and are already gaining ground. Ferroelectrics in Microwave Devices, Circuits and Systems is an introduction to the field. It explores the emergence of new functionalities and components with enhanced performance that can meet the agility and cost requirements of modern microwave-based systems. The book provides the reader with... |
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Ferroelectrics, Vol. 1 (Stefan University Press Series on Frontiers in Science and Technology) by V. Stefan (Editor) This Volume contains in-depth presentations. |
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Nanoscale Phenomena in Ferroelectric Thin Films (Multifunctional Thin Film Series) by Seungbum Hong (Editor) Nanoscale Phenomena in Ferroelectric Thin Films presents the recent advances in the field of nanoscale science and engineering of ferroelectric thin films. It consists of two main parts: electrical characterization in nanoscale ferroelectric capacitor, and nano domain manipulation and visualization in ferroelectric materials. Well-known leading experts both in relevant academia and industry over the world (U.S., Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Korea) were invited to contribute to each chapter. The objectives of the book are to provide the reader with the information needed to 1.) build, see and manipulate domain structures; 2.) understand the unexplained macroscopic phenomena; and 3.) create ferroelectric thin film that shows novel and significantly improved physical, chemical... |
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Ferroelectric Devices, Second Edition by Kenji Uchino (Author) Discover a Strategy to Develop Bestselling Ferroelectric Devices Updating its bestselling predecessor, Ferroelectric Devices, Second Edition assesses the last decade of developments—and setbacks—in the commercialization of ferroelectricity. Field pioneer and esteemed author Uchino provides insight into why this relatively nascent and interdisciplinary process has failed so far without a systematic accumulation of fundamental knowledge regarding materials and device development. Filling the informational void, this collection of information reviews state-of-the-art research and development trends reflecting nano and optical technologies, environmental regulation, and alternative energy sources. Like the first edition, which became a standard... |
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