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Theory‐Guided Synthesis of a Metastable Lead‐Free Piezoelectric Polymorph
Author(s) -
Garten Lauren M.,
Dwaraknath Shyam,
Walker Julian,
Mangum John S.,
Ndione Paul F.,
Park Yoonsang,
Beaton Daniel A.,
Gopalan Venkatraman,
Gorman Brian P.,
Schelhas Laura T.,
Toney Michael F.,
TrolierMcKinstry Susan,
Persson Kristin A.,
Ginley David S.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201800559
Subject(s) - piezoelectricity , metastability , materials science , ferroelectricity , lead (geology) , converse , realization (probability) , phase (matter) , nanotechnology , chemical physics , phase transition , condensed matter physics , optoelectronics , dielectric , physics , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , geometry , mathematics , statistics , geomorphology , geology
Abstract Many technologically critical materials are metastable under ambient conditions, yet the understanding of how to rationally design and guide the synthesis of these materials is limited. This work presents an integrated approach that targets a metastable lead‐free piezoelectric polymorph of SrHfO 3 . First‐principles calculations predict that the previous experimentally unrealized, metastable P4 mm phase of SrHfO 3 should exhibit a direct piezoelectric response (d 33 ) of 36.9 pC N −1 (compared to d 33 = 0 for the ground state). Combining computationally optimized substrate selection and synthesis conditions lead to the epitaxial stabilization of the polar P4 mm phase of SrHfO 3 on SrTiO 3 . The films are structurally consistent with the theory predictions. A ferroelectric‐induced large signal effective converse piezoelectric response of 5.2 pm V −1 for a 35 nm film is observed, indicating the ability to predict and target multifunctionality. This illustrates a coupled theory‐experimental approach to the discovery and realization of new multifunctional polymorphs.