NSF-Europe: Evolution of the Dielectric Constant Across Electronic Transitions

University Of Texas At Austin, Austin TX

Investigators

Abstract

This project aims to investigate the charge-ordering (CO) phenomenon in mixed-valent oxides with perovskite-related structures and to explore the design of materials with a high dielectric constant. The evolution of the dielectric constant at the crossover from localized to itinerant electronic behavior will be studied. The evolution of physical properties at this transition continues to be a subject of extensive and intensive investigation because there is still no accepted theory of the character of this transition, which manifests a number of novel phenomena. Surprisingly, the evolution of the dielectric properties has received little attention, yet it promises to provide novel phenomena of technical interest. %%% Two of the key investigators of the group in Spain have worked in Texas with Professor Goodenough, so excellent working relationships have been established. In addition, a University of Texas graduate student who is a U.S. citizen will study in Spain. The several universities involved bring different synthetic and/or measurement techniques to this complex problem, and the students of each country have an excellent opportunity to benefit culturally as well as scientifically from this collaboration. The possibility of designing a material with an anomalously high dielectric constant would open a field of technical as well as fundamental interest. ***