The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $183,269 project grant under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (CFDA 47.049) program to the University of Tennessee to conduct research on the spectroscopic properties and phase transformations of the dielectric material hafnium oxide (HfO2) under external stimuli.
The key objectives of this 3-year research project are to: (i) identify high pressure routes to new metastable states of hafnia, (ii) reveal the mechanical and tribological properties of different hafnia phases, (iii) develop techniques to grow stabilizer-free single crystals of hafnia using high pressure, (iv) search for soft mode instabilities, and (v) resolve the ferroelectric switching pathway in the polar orthorhombic phase. The research combines synchrotron-based spectroscopy, diamond anvil cell techniques, lattice dynamics calculations, and analysis of energy landscapes. Findings from this work are expected to advance theoretical understanding and inform semiconductor chip applications.
The project also supports the interdisciplinary education and training of young researchers at the University of Tennessee for future careers in academia, government, and industry related to advanced materials.
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