Electromechanical Probing of Ionic Currents in Energy Storage Materials

The electrochemical processes in energy storage materials are generally linked with changes of molar volume of the host compound. Here, the frequency dependent strain response of 1D electrochemically active systems to periodic electric bias is analyzed. The sensitivity and resolution of these electrochemical strain measurements are compared to the current-based electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The resolution and detection limits of interferometric and atomic force microscopy based systems for probing electrochemical reactions on the nanoscale are analyzed.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables, 2 appendices, submitted to Appl. Phys. Let

Pyroelectric response of ferroelectric nanoparticles: size effect and electric energy harvesting

The size effect on pyroelectric response of ferroelectric nanowires and nanotubes is analyzed. The pyroelectric coefficient strongly increases with the wire radius decrease and diverges at critical radius Rcr corresponding to the size-driven transition into paraelectric phase. Size-driven enhancement of pyroelectric coupling leads to the giant pyroelectric current and voltage generation by the polarized ferroelectric nanoparticles in response to the temperature fluctuation. The maximum efficiency of the pyroelectric energy harvesting and bolometric detection is derived, and is shown to approach the Carnot limit for low temperatures.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, 1 Appendi

Mesoscopic mechanism of the domain wall interaction with elastic defects in ferroelectrics

The role of elastic defects on the kinetics of 180-degree uncharged ferroelectric domain wall motion is explored using continuum time-dependent LGD equation with elastic dipole coupling. In one dimensional case, ripples, steps and oscillations of the domain wall velocity appear due to the wall-defect interactions. While the defects do not affect the limiting-wall velocity vs. field dependence, they result in the minimal threshold field required to activate the wall motions. The analytical expressions for the threshold field are derived and the latter is shown to be much smaller than the thermodynamic coercive field. The threshold field is linearly proportional to the concentration of defects and non-monotonically depends on the average distance between them. The obtained results provide the insight into the mesoscopic mechanism of the domain wall pinning by elastic defects in ferroelectrics.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figures, 1 appendi

Quantum Flexoelectricity in Low Dimensional Systems

Symmetry breaking at surfaces and interfaces and the capability to support large strain gradients in nanoscale systems enable new forms of electromechanical coupling. Here we introduce the concept of quantum flexoelectricity, a phenomenon that is manifested when the mechanical deformation of non-polar quantum systems results in the emergence of net dipole moments and hence linear electromechanical coupling proportional to local curvature. The concept is illustrated in carbon systems, including polyacetylene and nano graphitic ribbons. Using density functional theory calculations for systems made of up to 400 atoms, we determine the flexoelectric coefficients to be of the order of ~ 0.1 e, in agreement with the prediction of linear theory. The implications of quantum flexoelectricity on electromechanical device applications, and physics of carbon based materials are discussed.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figure