UTARI Seminar: Dr. Ye Cao

UTARI Seminar is held the last Friday of each month at 12:00PM (noon). Each seminar highlights a different speaker who will discuss their latest research projects, cutting-edge technology or what is happening within certain technological industries. These industries include biomedical technologies or microsystems, assistive technologies, automation and intelligent systems, unmanned systems, advanced manufacturing and composite materials.

Speaker

Dr. Ye Cao

Topic

Phase-field Simulation of Pressure-induced Mechanical Switching in Nanoscale Oxide Thin Film

Abstract

Functional materials such as ferroelectric oxides underpin a vast spectrum of modern technological applications such as nonvolatile memories, piezoelectric actuators/sensors, and dielectric/ferroelectric capacitors. A fundamental understanding of the microstructural evolutions in nanoscale functional oxide, such as ion motion, ferroelectric domain switching and phase transition, and their couplings with thermal, electrical, mechanical and chemical excitations are fundamental to the realization of many of its application.

In this talk I will demonstrate a mesoscale computational approach based on phase-field model to study the pressure-induced polarization switching in ferroelectric thin films. Compared to conventional bias-induced polarization switching, pressure switching has emerged as a powerful method for domain patterning, with the advantage of highly localized, electrically erasable and electric damage free characteristics. However, the mechanisms for pressure induced polarization switching in ferroelectrics remain highly controversial, with flexoelectricity, polarization rotation and suppression, and bulk and surface electrochemical processes all being potentially relevant. Here I will show how phase-field model can be used to classify these different mechanisms in mechanical switching in a prototypical lead zirconate titanate thin film. The implication of this example, as well as the potential application of the established mesoscale model will be discussed to provide insights for the future design and optimization of functional materials

Bio

Ye Cao is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington since 09/2017. Before joining UTA he was a Postdoc Research Associate in the Center of Nanophase Materials Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He obtained his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University in 2014. His research interests include mesoscale phase-field simulations on the microstructural evolutions and applications in functional oxides and energy-materials, such as transport dynamics and resistance degradation in dielectric capacitors, domain switching and phase transition in ferroelectric thin film, and electric, elastic and chemical coupling in nanoscale functional oxides.

Date

03/30/18

Time

12pm (noon)-1pm

Location

7300 Jack Newell Boulevard South
Fort Worth, TX 76118-7115
817-272-5900
utari.uta.edu

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