Department of Ferroelectrics

Scientific Problems

The mission of the Department of Ferroelectrics is:

study of electric and magnetic materials including ferroics nanomaterials, ferroelectrics, multiferroics, ionic and superprotonic conductors by means of high-frequency dielectrometry method and magnetometric methods (VSM magnetometer, AC susceptometer)
characterization of morphology, structure and composition of these materials using electron microscopy (SEM, TEM, SAED, EDS), X-ray diffraction
synthesis of materials and nanomaterials by means of mechanical alloying and microwave activated hydrothermal reaction method.

The general aim of researches is manufacturing of new ferroic and multiferroics materials, getting knowledge about theirs properties, and explaining mechanisms of electric transport in fast ion conductors and polymers.

Rys. 1 Wpływ efektu rozmiarowego na właściwości magnetyczne żelazianu bizmutu BiFeO3 — Fig.1 Influence of size effect on magnetic properties of bismuth ferrite BiFeO₃

Researches of ferroics including M-hexaferrites Sr(Ba)Fe₁₂O₁₉ and of BiFeO₃ multiferroics are aimed at synthesis of new materials (by means of mechanosynthesis or by hydrothermal synthesis) and explaining the influence of morphology and doping with Nd³⁺, Al³⁺, Sc³⁺, … ions on theirs magnetoelectric properties.

The researches concern also magnetic orderings in large systems of magnetic nanoparticles like, for example, Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ magnetite particles in silica shell and investigations of conducting properties of LiMn₂O₄ doped ceramics.

In the case of fast ion conductors the studies are aimed at getting basic knowledge about electric transport mechanisms, phase transitions and physical properties of new organic compounds like, for example, new ferroelectrics [C(NH₂)₃]₄X₂SO₄ (X=Cl, Br) or [C(NH₂)₃]₄Cl₂SO₄ and (NH₄)₄H₂(SeO₄)₂ crystals. Similar studies are performed for [(CH₃)₂CHCH₂]NHSO₄ compound with hyper polarized organic cathions.

Badanie własności elektrycznych i magnetycznych materiałów oraz nanomateriałów ferroicznych, M-heksaferrytów, multiferroików, ferroelektryków oraz przewodników jonowych i superprotonowych metodami wysokoczęstościowej dielektrometrii oraz magnetometrii (magnetometr z wibrującą próbką VSM, podatnościomierz AC), charakteryzowanie: morfologii, składu i struktury tych materiałów za pomocą mikroskopii elektronowej (SEM, TEM, SAED, EDS), dyfrakcji rentgenowskiej, oraz wytwarzanie materiałów i nanomateriałów metodą mechanosyntezy i mikrofalowo aktywowanej syntezy hydrotermalnej.

Fig 2 Various forms of bismuth ferrite BiFeO3 micro- and nanocrystals (synthesis performed by dr. Katarzyna Chybczyńska). Fig 4 Various forms of bismuth ferrite BiFeO3 micro- and nanocrystals (synthesis performed by dr. Katarzyna Chybczyńska) Fig 5 Various forms of bismuth ferrite BiFeO3 micro- and nanocrystals (synthesis performed by dr. Katarzyna Chybczyńska)