Duration
20h Th, 10h Pr
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
Functionals (or "smart") materials are those materials that, due to their specific properties (dielectric, piezoelectric, ferroelectric, ferromagnetic, magneto-electric, electro-optic, ...) are playing an active role in devices such as memories, sensors, actuators, transducors and are in the heart of technological applications. The course want, on the one hand, to explain the microscopic mechanisms at the origin of various functional properties and, on the other hand, to provide some thezoretical tools to study and simulate them. The course will focus on the family of ABO_3 oxide with a perovskite structure which play a key role in numerous applications and due to their diversity allow considering various properties. Chapiter 1 will focus on the atomic structure of these compounds; it will target the identification of structural instabilities they can develop and the various types of phase transitions these instabilities can produce. Chapiter 2 will show how to model such structural phase transitions in the generic framework of Landau theory. Chapter 3 will address the question of finite size effects in nanostructures of these compounds. Chapter 4 will propose a more microscopic description of these compounds in order to put in relation the structural and electronic properties. Chapter 5 will open new perspectives by addressing some timely questions. The course will be accompanied with exercices targetting the prediction in the context of Landau theory of the properties of selected oxides under applied mechanical and electric constraints.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
The main goal of this course is to provide to the students a microscopic understanding of the origin of coupling properties in functional materials.
It allows the students to get familiar with Landau theories, through their use in concrete applications.
It provides key elements to understand the physics of perovskite compounds.
It offers complementarities with the course PHYS0981 - Quantum modelling of materials properties.
It can, in some cases, constitute a useful basis for the Master Thesis.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Physics of materials (course PHYS0936)
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The oral course will content 10 modules of 2 hours and will be completed by 5 modules of tutoring during which the student will have to realize a personal work.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Green code : courses and tutorials on-site.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Notes will be distributed to the students.
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Written work / report
Additional information:
The evaluation will combine (i) a personal work to give back at the end of the semester and (ii) an oral exam with writing preparation.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Contacts
Pr. Philippe GHOSEZ
Institut de Physique B5a (3/11)
Tél.: 04/366.36.11
E-mail : Philippe.Ghosez@uliege.be
Dr. Eric BOUSQUET
Institut de Physique B5a (3/03)
Tél.: 04/366.25.85
E-mail : Eric.Bousquet@uliege.be