Research Press Release
Lead-free ferroelectrics enhanced
Nature Communications
March 21, 2012
A mechanism that enhances the piezoelectric properties of non-toxic materials is reported in Nature Communications this week. This finding could pave the way for the fabrication of high-performance yet non-toxic piezoelectric materials for technological applications. The piezoelectric materials most commonly used in practical applications contain lead, a toxic element. By examining the role played by defects known as charged domain walls, Tomas Sluka and co-workers identify an unexpected mechanism through which these can lead to enhanced piezoelectric properties in lead-free materials.
doi:10.1038/ncomms1751
Research highlights
-
Aug 6
Infectious disease: Zoonotic disease risk linked to human land use managementNature
-
Aug 6
Climate change: Measuring ecosystem disruption caused by marine heatwavesNature
-
Aug 5
Physics: Tracking space debris in daylightNature Communications
-
Aug 4
Conservation: Panda protection fails to safeguard large carnivoresNature Ecology & Evolution
-
Aug 4
Planetary science: Ancient ice sheets on MarsNature Geoscience
-
Jul 31
Climate change: Coastal flooding could threaten up to 20% of global GDPScientific Reports
