The complex media of ferroelectric and related materials

Macroscopic dielectric and piezoelectric properties are strongly influenced by structural features that span a wide variety of length scales in ferroelectric based materials. This paper will address a number of examples of such features in important materials that are presently being developed for next generation capacitor devices and/or piezoelectric sensors or actuators.⁽¹⁾ Special emphasis will be given to the interrelationship of crystal structure, crystal chemistry, phase transition, and properties in perovskite crystal structures which can host ferroic behavior. This ferroic behavior includes ferroelectric, antiferroelectric, and ferroelastic transitions.⁽²⁾ Transmission electron microscopy techniques will be used to demonstrate and characterize the detailed structure of the ferroelectric in which dielectric and piezoelectric properties emerge.⁽³⁾.