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Functional materials are distinctively different from structural materials. Their physical and chemical properties are sensitive to a change in the environment such as temperature, pressure, electric field, magnetic field, and optical wavelength. Functional materials utilize their native properties and functions to intelligent action. Any materials with functionality are attributed to functional materials such as ferroelectric and piezoelectric crystals and those may cover a wide range of organic and inorganic materials. Our work here at UConn is mainly concentrated on thin films of functional oxiodes. Searching for new functional materials and improving the properties of the already known ones is a challenge for the development of smart systems. Our focus is on the relationship between microstructure including equilibrium defects such as misfit dislocations, internal stresses and the physical properties of thin films of functional oxides.

 

 

 

 

For more information, contact Dr. Alpay.

e-mail: p.alpay@ims.uconn.edu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Web by Gursel Akcay gursel@engr.uconn.edu Updated 02/13/2007

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