Physicists Investigate New Electronic Phenomena with the Use of Crystals

The researchers at the University of North Florida’s LEGO Atomic Laboratory in physics have discovered a new electrical phenomenon called by “asymmetric ferroelectricity. The study led by Dr. Maitri Warusawithana, an assistant professor of physics at UNF, in cooperation with scientists at the University of Illinois and Arizona State University, has demonstrated this phenomenon for the first time in engineered two-dimensional crystals.

The discovery of asymmetric ferroelectricity in engineered crystals happened specifically 100 years after the discovery of ferroelectricity in specific naturally happening crystals. Ferroelectric crystals, crystals that reveal two identical bistable polarization states, are currently employed in numerous state-of-the-art applications such as RFID cards, solid-state memory, precision actuators, and sensors.

Taking advantage of atomic-scale materials design, the team of scientists has shown a qualitatively new phenomenon, asymmetric ferroelectricity, for the very first time. These engineered crystals result in an asymmetric bi-stability with two differing stable polarization states as opposed to a natural ferroelectric.

Warusawithana wishes this initial observation of asymmetric ferroelectricity accomplished with materials-by-design may further research on customized electrical properties and may find its way into exciting technological applications.

Originally published on Scitechdaily.com. Read the original article.