Ceramics for Electronics and Energy: Issues and Opportunities

Abstract

The ceramic electronic components market is growing mainly because of portable electronics. The market drives toward device miniaturization, which is achievable by extremely tiny electronic components; but the electronic components miniaturization itself is approaching the technical limit. The R&D efforts of academic and industrial scientists are focused not only on new materials and advanced characterization tools, but also on advanced ceramic processing techniques to shift the miniaturization limit. For instance, the production of submicrometer powders prepared by conventional methods has reached the level where new strategies, such as bottom‐up methods for material synthesis might be required for further improvement. Established ceramic processing technologies are close to limitations too — for example, submicrometer tape‐casted ceramic layers — and the re‐evaluation of methods, which have not yet been used on an industrial level, might be the breakthrough. Solutions may come from disciplines outside of the traditional ceramic‐manufacturing world as well. Advanced analytical tools and deeper understanding of the solid state chemistry have revealed the importance of grain boundaries characteristics and submicrometer scale structures. Nanoscale engineering has become crucial in many fields. Many ceramic components are based on metals with a potential environmental impact (e.g., Pb, Cd, Te) or limited resources (e.g., rare earth elements). A growing scientific activity is devoted to greener formulations, less rare raw materials, and the entire life‐cycle of ceramic components. “Healthcare” and “Energy” are appealing markets. Bio‐integrated electronics based on flexible silicon integrated circuit open opportunities for social benefit — and fruitful business — beyond imagination. Energy market is in need of materials, which can operate at higher temperature and higher energy density with improved reliability. Ceramic materials open new chances.

Core–Shell Lead–Free Piezoelectric Ceramics: Current Status and Advanced Characterization of the Bi1/2Na1/2TiO3–SrTiO3 System

“…Multifunctional ceramics are becoming increasingly important in technological devices since they enable coupling between electrical, mechanical, optical, and magnetic properties . Piezoelectrics are technologically relevant due to their ability to transform a mechanical input into an electrical output or vice versa.…”

Piezoelectricity and rotostriction through polar and non-polar coupled instabilities in bismuth-based piezoceramics

“…Multifunctional ceramics define breakthrough technologies due to their unique ability of transducing electrical, mechanical, optical, and magnetic signals1. This is a consequence of the rich and complex interplay between their order parameters and conjugated fields2.…”

Strain Mechanisms in Lead-Free Ferroelectrics for Actuators

“…1 These advanced ceramics are intended to meet the constantly evolving frontiers of new energy efficient products, which are desired to increase productivity and assure a better quality of life. 2 Piezoelectrics couple electrical and mechanical properties and thus are relevant in a wide variety of applications, such as actuators, motors, sensors, accelerometers, transducers, resonators, and others.…”