Perovskite Ferroelectric Materials For Sustainable Energy Technologies

Many governments are working towards decarbonising their economies, with the EU having set net-zero targets to be reached by 2050. At the moment, however, still about 70% of all the worlds power comes from burning fossil fuels (i.e. coal, oil, gas).

It is clear that in order for these goals to be feasible and economically viable, the way we generate and use energy needs to change drastically.

One way of addressing this challenge is research into novel, more advanced classes of quantum materials where, broadly speaking, new structural and electronic properties can start to emerge. Here, ferroelectrics are a leading candidate for achieving high-performance energy technologies.

OFFSET aims to explore the potential of ferroelectric materials for future energy applications by focusing on one specific material class, nitride perovskites.

While the properties of many nitride perovskite candidates have already been studied computationally, experimental realisations have been lacking, hindering potential applications. In order to achieve these goals, OFFSET aims to synthesise a number of structures using molecular-beam epitaxy.

This will be combined with advanced characterisation techniques, including cryogenic and structural measurements as well as piezoresponse atomic-force and transmission electron microscopy, in order to assess their quality and quantify the piezoelectric/ ferroelectric response.

At a later stage, OFFSET also aims to explore potential technological applications including uses as memories, photovoltaics and/or thermoelectrics.

This will be achieved via an advanced nanofabrication programme, making use of the cleanroom facilities available at both project partners.

With these efforts, OFFSET expects to acquire fundamental knowledge on the viability and feasibility of nitride perovskites for use in future energy technologies.