Electronic and optical properties of polycrystalline metal-oxide materials

01 July 2010 (Thu) 16:00 - 17:00

8F large seminar room, Sengen site/千現地区８F中セミナー室

Dr. Keith McKenna

CMMP, University College London & WPI-AIMR, Tohoku University

Electronic and optical properties of polycrystalline metal-oxide materials

Although polycrystalline metal-oxide materials and nanopowders are ubiquitous in nature, and find numerous technological applications, surprisingly little is known about their electronic properties.

In this talk, I will present recent results on the electronic properties of metal-oxide interfaces and surfaces that have been obtained by quantum-mechanical calculations. These will include studies of optical excitation and charge trapping in MgO nanopowders, and defect segregation and electron trapping at grain boundaries in MgO and HfO2. The implications of the results for technological applications such as solid oxide fuel cells, catalysts and MOSFETs will be discussed.

References:

K. McKenna et al, APL 95, 222111 (2009)

PRB 79, 224116 (2009); Micro. Eng. 86, 1751-1755 (2009)

Nature Materials 7, 859-862 (2008); JACS 129, 8600-8608 (2007)

Dr. Yoshitaka Tateyama(館山佳尚)