Simultaneously to the Electroceramics for End-users IX, PIEZO2017, conference and open to its attendees, we are organizing a JECS Trust funded Winter School on “Advanced Characterization of Piezoceramics”. The proposed Winter School aims to discuss the role on piezoelectric ceramics processing and applications of the advanced characterization, microstructural, mechanical and electrical introducing both classical knowledge in these areas and novel techniques. The proposed program consists of three groups of activities: tutorials, student poster competition and a social event, which will be a chance for students and early-stage researchers to get to know each other and will provide the basis for networking and future collaborations in a relaxed atmosphere. Tutorials will be conducted by international experts that will provide unique insights for researchers and those interested in broadening their skills. This will take place on three Sessions on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday.

A number of grants are available for students to attend this Winter School. Grants will include a full student registration to attend the PIEZO2017 conference. The selection of the students will be made according to the quality and relevance of the research of the abstract submitted to the conference, for which the student must be the presenting author. A letter from the scientific advisor stating the situation of the student will be requested to validate the application.

Application for a JECS Trust grant shall be made at the on-line abstract submission. Acceptance of the application and the abstract will be sent together with the notification of the exemption of the student fee for PIEZO2017.

If you are not attending PIEZO2017 or, if participating, you also want to get the certificate of attendance to the Winter School, you can now register for the Winter School below. To obtain the certificate of attendance to the Winter School is necessary to attend all the Lectures, being the first of them given Sunday 19th February 2017 at 15:00.

There will be signature forms circulated to the Lecture’s attendees to control the attendance.

Registration Fee (Standard & student) includes:

• Access to Winter School and to Piezo2017 sessions (see Piezo2017 and Winter School program at the section “news” of this web page. See below information on the Abstracts and Lecturers)
• Attendance certificate, if the above mentioned conditions are fulfilled.
• Sunday Lunch (Served 19th February 2017 at 13.30)
• Refreshments during Piezo2017 coffee-breaks.

Registration Fee Full Board (Standard & student) includes:

• Access to Winter School and to Piezo2017 sessions (see Piezo2017 and Winter School program at the section “news” of this web page. See below information on the Abstracts and Lecturers)
• Attendance certificate, if the above mentioned conditions are fulfilled.
• Sunday Lunch (Served 19th February 2017 at 13.30)
• Refreshments during Piezo2017 coffee-breaks.
• Accommodation (3 nights) from 19th to the 22th of February 2017
• Full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) from Sunday dinner to Wednesday breakfast.

Venice, Symmetry and Characterization of Functional Materials

Luis E. Fuentes-Cobas
Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados, S.C., Chihuahua, Chih. México.

The subject of the present tutorial is the structure-symmetry-coupling properties relationship in functional materials. Materials with coupling properties (e.g. piezoelectricity, magnetoelectricity) transduce one kind of physico-chemical stimulus (say, mechanical stress or magnetic field) into a response of a different nature (electric polarization). The use of synchrotron light diffraction in the investigation of matter symmetry at atomic-level is explained. As a motivational resource, the application of symmetry concepts to analyze a variety of Venice objects, from the Basilica di San Marco to paintings at the Guggenheim Museum, is explained. Several crystal physics concepts, e.g. symmetry versus anti-symmetry, direct versus reciprocal spaces, single- versus poly-crystals, polar- versus axial-vectors, are introduced by means of Venetian examples ranging from carnival masks to Murano glasses. Symmetry considerations allow understanding the infrared and Raman spectra of functional materials. In parallel with the mentioned topics, state of the art diffraction-scattering techniques for the investigation of materials structure are discussed. Recent investigations related with lead-free ferro-piezoelectrics illustrate the current scenario. Selected implications of structural symmetry on considered materials' properties are analyzed. The roles of space- and time-inversion symmetries in ferroic and multi-ferroic phenomena are commented.

 Acknowledgements:  The author is grateful to Stanford and Elettra synchrotron lightsources for multifaceted support. Funding from Project CONACYT 257912 “Representación y pronóstico de las propiedades físicas de los materiales mono- y policristalinos” is recognized.

Brief CV Prof. Luis E. Fuentes-Cobas

He obtained his B. Sc. (1970), M- Sc. (1977) and Ph.D. (1982) in Solid State Physics from Havana University, Cuba. He received a post-doc on neutron texture analysis at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Russia (1983 - 85). In Cuba he worked as Professor and Senior Researcher at Havana University and at the Cuban Academy of Sciences. In Mexico he works, since 1997, at the Physics Department of the Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados, Chihuahua. His teaching and research activities have been centered on electromagnetic theory, crystallographic analysis by synchrotron light diffraction and the structure-properties relationship. He has made original contributions on the crystal physics of piezo- and magnetoelectric properties of polycrystals. Dr. Fuentes-Cobas coordinates the Materials World Modules-Mexico scientific education program (http://mwm.cimav.edu.mx) and the web page of the Material Properties Open Database project (http://mpod.cimav.edu.mx). He has been awarded in Russia, Cuba and Mexico for his research results. ;

Mechanical Characterization of Piezoelectric Ceramics

Kyle G. Webber
Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Department of Materials Science. Erlangen, Bavaria, Germany.

Piezoelectric ceramics have enabled numerous technologies in many fields. Although there are a number of figures or merit, which are often application specific, reliability is a common requirement amongst all applications. These ceramic materials, however, are brittle with a fracture toughness approximately equivalent to window glass, making their implementation contingent of the application of compressive stresses or use outside of the dynamic range. In addition, many applications operate at elevated temperatures. For that reason, understanding the temperature dependent mechanical properties of perovskite ferroelectrics is critical.

The focus of this tutorial is on the macroscopic mechanical constitutive behavior of perovskite ferroelectrics, in particular ferroelasticity and field-induced phase transformations. The influence of crystal structure (phase boundaries), temperature, grain size, and substitution related defects will also be discussed. Following a brief introduction to general fracture mechanics concepts and terms, the role nonlinear mechanical behavior on the fracture of ferroelectrics will be introduced. The final section will introduce the mechanical properties of lead-free ferroelectrics. The phenomena responsible for the electromechanical response will be discussed as well as the likely impact on the fracture behavior. Suggestions for future studies and open questions will be presented.

Brief CV Prof. Kyle G. Webber

At present Professor in the Department of Materials Science at the Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg. Prior to this, he was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Materials and Geoscience at Technische Universität Darmstadt (Germany). He received a B.S. in Marine Systems Engineering from Maine Maritime Academy in 2003 and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2005 and 2008. In 2008, he joined the Institute of Materials Science of the Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany as a postdoctoral researcher, where he worked on the mechanical properties of ferroelectrics. In 2013 he was awarded the Emmy Noether Research Fellowship by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. His primary research interests include temperature dependent ferroelasticity, phase transformations, and fracture of single crystal and polycrystalline ferroelectric. He authored/coauthored more than 65 refereed publications in this research area.

X-ray absorption study of functional materials

María Elena Montero Cabrera
Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados, S.C., Miguel de Cervantes 120, Complejo Ind. Chihuahua, C. P. 31136, Chihuahua, Chih. Mexico.

This tutorial is devoted to explaining the merits of the application of synchrotron radiation for studying the X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) in piezo- and ferroelectric materials. The XAFS phenomena are consequence of the X-ray photoelectric effect and the further behavior of the scattered electron. XAFS allows determining several features in the local order around atoms of crystalline materials. Chemical and physical properties, such as the interatomic distances, oxidation states, and the coordination number of atoms at the first few shells, are some of these features. The origin of the X-ray absorption edges of each element and its fine structure will be introduced as well. The difference between X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) and Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) effects and their applicability for the mentioned local order structure determinations in oxides will be explained. Finally, some of the works representing EXAFS and XANES applied to oxides, from the classical ones on PbTiO3 and BaTiO3 to modern functional materials, as chromium-iron maghemite and lead-free ferro-piezoelectrics, will be presented.

Acknowledgements: The support of SSRL, ELETTRA and ESRF synchrotron lightsources is grateful acknowledged. Funding from Project CONACYT 183706 and 257912 is recognized.

Brief CV Prof. María Elena Montero Cabrera

She obtained her Bachelor in Physics (1972) at Havana University, Cuba, and her Ph. D. in Physical-Mathematical Sciences (1987) at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Russia.

Worked during 25 years in Cuba, at Havana University, in the Faculties of Physics and of Nuclear Science and Technologies. She was President of the Cuban Physical Society from 1994 to 1998. She has been member of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1995.

Currently works as Senior Researcher and professor at the Master and Doctor programs on Environmental Science and Technology at the Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados (CIMAV) in Chihuahua, Mexico. Her main areas of research are X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption fine structure on functional and environmental materials, as well as Environmental radioactivity, gamma-ray spectrometry, alpha-ray spectrometry by liquid scintillation and semiconductor detectors.

In her scientific research, for many years she has been employing beams in large facilities, such as neutrons in a nuclear reactor and x- ray in synchrotrons.

Numerical Characterization of Piezoelectric Discs Using Resonance Curves

Nicolás Pérez.
Universidad de la República, Facultad de Ingeniería, Montevideo, Uruguay

Piezoelectric materials characterization is a challenging problem involving physical concepts, electrical and mechanical measurements and numerical optimization techniques. Piezoelectric ceramics such as PZT belong to the 6 mm symmetry class, which requires five elastic, three piezoelectric and two dielectric constants to fully represent the material properties. If losses are considered the material properties are represented by complex numbers. The continuous improvement of the computer processing ability has allowed the use of a specific numerical method, the Finite Element Method (FEM), to iteratively solve the problem of finding the piezoelectric constants. Using their axis-symmetry, piezoelectric discs can be simulated in practical times.

The objective of this presentation is to present the basic concepts in the numerical characterization of 6 mm piezoelectric materials from experimental electrical impedance curves.

The basic strategy consists in measuring the electrical impedance curve of a piezoelectric disk, and then combining the Finite Element Method with an iterative algorithm to find a set of material properties that minimizes the difference between the numerical impedance curve and the experimental one. Different methods to validate the results are also discussed. Examples of characterization of some common piezoelectric ceramics are presented to show the practical application of the described methods.

Brief CV Dr. Nicolás Leonardo Pérez Álvarez

Engineering Assistant in Electronics – 1985, Universidad del Trabajo del Uruguay (UTU). Electrical Engineering – 1999, UdelaR (Universidad de la República - Uruguay). Magister in Physics – 2002, UdelaR. Doctor in Physics – UdelaR. Teaching experience for more than 25 years in university level courses. Institutions, UTU, UdelaR, Universidad ORT – Uruguay. Work as Project engineering for 8 years in automation and hardware design. More than 30 publications in international journals with cross review (among others, Smart Materials and Structures, Materials, Ultrasonics, IEEE TUFFC,…), more than 40 presentations in international congress and meetings. Current research interest in signal processing applied to acoustics, time reversal, wave focalization, materials characterization using acoustic techniques, piezoelectric ceramics, anisotropic materials, transducers, ultrasound applied to food industry and non-destructive evaluation.

Implementation of advanced microscopies in an atomic force microscope

J. J. Gervacio-Arciniega
Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, AP 14, Ensenada 22860, B. C., México.
CONACyT-Facultad de Físico Matemáticas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Ciudad Universitaria, San Manuel, C. P. 72570, Puebla, Puebla., México.

Over the last years, piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) has become as the main technique to straightforwardly map and manipulate domains in ferroelectric materials at nanoscale level (D. Denning, Et al, Int. Mater. Rev. 6608, 1743280415Y.000, 2015) (S. Kalinin, Et al, Appl. Phys. Lett., 85, no. 5, 795, 2004). In this work, details of the instrumentation to obtain the dynamical response of the scanning probe microscopy (SPM) cantilever through controlling a lock-in amplifier by a computer with a software developed in LabView, is showed. By using the internal ac source of the lock-in is possible to obtain directly different material responses without the need of an expensive commercial module. The procedure is helpful and easy to implement for users that are interested into extend the capabilities of their atomic force microscope to carry out other techniques like piezoresponse force microscopy, atomic force acoustic microscopy and piezomagnetic force microscopy, to name a few. In order to illustrate the utility of the methodology proposed, resonance PFM, resonance-tracking PFM, resonance-tracking switching PFM, piezoresponse force microscopy non-linearities and discrimination of ferroelectric from non-ferroelectric responses measurements were conducted. Additionally, piezomagnetic force microscopy and atomic force acoustic microscopy characterizations with the same instrumentation were carried out.

This work has been supported in part by projects UNAM-DGAPA-PAPIME PE104716, PAPIIT-UNAM IN109016, IN106414, and CoNaCyT 174391 and 166286.

Brief CV Dr. J. J. Gervacio-Arciniega

At present Professor and Senior Researcher in the Department of Materials Physics at the Physics and Mathematics Faculty, Autonomous University of Puebla. Prior to this, he was Senior Researcher in the Department of Advanced Materials at Center of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology UNAM (México). He received a B.S. in Physics and mathematics science from Physics and Mathematics Faculty, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo in 2006 and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Materials Science from Center for Research and Advanced Studies (CINVESTAV-México) in 2008 and 2012. In 2012, he joined the Center of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology CNyN-UNAM, as a postdoctoral researcher, where he worked on the implemetation of piezoresponse force microscopy, magnetic force microscopy, atomic force acoustic microscopy, piezomagnetic force microscopy techniques and studies of local electromechanical properties of ferroelectrics. His primary research interests include developments for atomic force microscopy, local properties of materials, ferroelectric and multiferroic thin films.