2023-2024 / PHYS3003-1

Physics of functional oxides

Duration

20h Th, 10h Pr

Number of credits

 Master in physics, research focus (FAME+)4 crédits 
 Master in chemistry (120 ECTS) (AMIS)4 crédits 
 Master in chemistry (120 ECTS) (FAME AIS)4 crédits 
 Master in physics (120 ECTS)4 crédits 
 Master in physics (120 ECTS) (AMIS)4 crédits 
 Master in physics (120 ECTS) (FAME-AIS)4 crédits 
 Master in physics (60 ECTS) (Registrations are closed)4 crédits 
 Advanced Master in Nanotechnologies4 crédits 

Lecturer

Philippe Ghosez

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

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 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 perspectives the structural and electronic properties. 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 goal of this course is to provide to the student a microscopic understanding of the origin of coupling properties in functional materials.

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.

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

Association of one or more MOOCs