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Department of Dielectrics

Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences


2024
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Antiskyrmions in ferroelectric barium titanate

Our recent molecular dynamics computational study reveals that the bulk crystal of the archetypal ferroelectric perovskite BaTiO3 can host ferroelectric antiskyrmions at zero field. We show that the antiskyrmion has just 2-3 nm in diameter and that it carries a very exotic topological charge of minus two [Phys. Rev. Lett. 133, 066802 (2024)].

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2023
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Ultrafast long-distance expansion of electron-hole plasma in direct bandgap semiconductors

Transport of charge carriers inside crystals is determined by their energy band structure which only permits velocities smaller than ~c/100 in known materials. We demonstrated that ultrafast and long-distance propagation of electron-hole plasma (velocities up to c/10, reaching more than 100 μm) is possible as a quite general result of fundamental electron-photon interaction in direct bandgap semiconductors upon strong pulse photoexcitation with low photon excess energy above the bandgap [PRL 130, 226301 (2023) & Nanophotonics 13, 1859 (2024)].

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Paving the way to a 3-state thermal switch using antiferroelectric Pb(Zr1-xTix)O3

We propose a novel approach of phase-control in Pb(Zr0.95Ti0.05)O3 (PZT95/5) based on the thermal behavior of its phases. Our results show the possibility to thermally switch among three states near room temperature using small temperature gradients by heating-cooling cycles at slow rates. Thus, PZT95/5 ceramics are potential materials for room temperature device applications [Acta Materialia, 119208 (2023), online].

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Zigzag charged domain walls in ferroelectric PbTiO3

We report a theoretical investigation of a charged 180-degree domain wall in ferroelectric PbTiO3, compensated by randomly distributed immobile charge defects. We predict that domain walls form a zigzag pattern and we discuss their properties in a broad interval of compensation-region widths. The zigzag is accompanied by a local polarization rotation which we explain to provide an efficient mechanism for charge compensation. [Phys. Rev. B 107, 094102 (2023)].

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2022
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Application of HfO2 thin films in non-volatile memories – a review

We review main factors in preparation of HfO2 thin films and their physical properties which are important for applications in high-density resistive random access memories and ferroelectric memories [Small 18, 2107575 (2022)].

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2021
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Multidomain ordered metal–ferroelectric superlattices

By combination of advanced experimental techniques and phase-field simulations, we found that electric dipoles in superlattices, composed of layers of a ferroelectric material separated by thin metallic spacers, form an unusual pattern of nanoscale domains that order in three dimensions. These ferroelectric multidomain ordered superlattices exhibit an outstanding dielectric response and their engineered modulated structural and electronic properties can be controlled using electric field [Nat. Mater. 20, 495 (2021)].

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Ferroelectric and antiferroelectric phases in liquid crystalline compounds with terphenyl in the molecular coere

We designed a new type of antiferroelectric liquid crystalline structure with terphenyl in the molecular core and two lactate units attached to the chiral chain [J. Mol. Liq. 336, 116267 (2021)].

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2020
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New material for 5G mobile networks

Epitaxial strained thin films of (SrTiO3)n-1(BaTiO3)1SrO were found to be a promising new material for mobile network of the 5th generation [Nature Mater. 19, 176 (2020)].

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Ferroelectric phase transition in water molecules localized in mineral cordierite

We discovered that hydrogen bonds are eliminated and the Coulombic interactions dominate in water molecules localized in nano-channels of mineral cordierite. Their dipole moment is perpendicular to the channel axis c and our dielectric spectroscopy study have revealed their ordering at ~3 K. The critical relaxation tending to this ordering is polarized along the a-axis direction and lies in the radiofrequency range. Spontaneous polarization measurements yield the saturated value of ~3 nC/cm2 at 0.3 K [Nat. Commun. 11, 3927 (2020)].

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Making EuO multiferroic by epitaxial strain engineering

Optical soft mode driven ferroelectric phase transition was discovered in IR spectra of tensile strained ferromagnetic EuO thin films [Commun. Mater. 1, 74 (2020)].

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Polarization of domain boundaries in SrTiO3 studied by layer group and order-parameter symmetry

Based on a recently developed combination of layer group analysis with order-parameter symmetry, we study the polarity of antiphase domain boundaries (APBs) and ferroelastic twin boundaries (TBs) in SrTiO3 [Phys. Rev. B 102, 184101 (2020)].

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Seemingly anisotropic magnetodielectric effect in isotropic EuTiO3 ceramics

Anisotropic magnetodielectric effect was observed at 0.3 K in the low-frequency dielectric spectra of antiferromagnetic EuTiO3 ceramics [Phys. Rev. B 102, 144402 (2020)].

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Curie-Weiss susceptibility in strongly correlated electron systems

We succeeded in identifying a microscopic mechanism combining adequately quantum and thermal fluctuations in metals with strong electron correlations that lead to the genesis of local magnetic moments and the Curie-Weiss susceptibility [Phys. Rev. B 102, 205120 (2020)].

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Local properties and phase transitions in Sn doped antiferroelectric PbHfO3 single crystal

Pb(Hf0.77Sn0.23)03 crystals were characterized using x-ray diffraction and 119Sn Mossbauer spectroscopy in a wide temperature range. The nature of two intermediate phases, situated between antiferroelectric ground-state and high temperature paraelectric phase, has been unveiled [J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 32, 435402 (2020)].

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2019
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Organic nanotubes created from mesogenic lactic acid derivatives

We found a facile route how to prepare nanotubes from rod-like mesogens dissolved in typical organic solvents. For selected types of chiral rod-like molecules, both enantiomers as well as the racemic mixtures, the nanotubes are formed by slow evaporation from a solution, regardless the solvent, concentration or deposition type. Obtained supramolecular assemblies were studied using various experimental techniques and nanotubes of 50-60 nm diameter described. We proposed rolling-up mechanism related to the surface tension difference at the opposite layer surfaces.

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Mesoscopic polarization dynamics and two ferroelectric sublattices in the uniaxial tetragonal tungsten bronze (SrxBa1−x)Nb2O6

The high-frequency dielectric behavior of uniaxial tungsten-bronze strontium barium niobate crystals with various Sr/Ba ratios have been studied in order to thoroughly understand the evolution of the relaxation dynamics across the ferroelectric phase transition. We showed that the dielectric response along the polar axis consists of three relaxations corresponding to polarization mechanisms related to several correlation lengths of mesoscopic order and that they are closly associated with two different ferroelectric subsystems.in the structure [1].

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Changes in spin and lattice dynamics induced by magnetic and structural phase transitions in multiferroic SrMn7O12

Upon cooling, SrMn7O12 undergoes a series of structural and magnetic phase transitions from cubic to rhombohedral symmetry, and to an incommensurately modulated crystal structure, which is connected with charge and orbital ordering of the Mn cations. We report IR, THz, and Raman spectra of SrMn7O12 ceramics reflecting corresponding changes in the phonon selection rules, including new phonons appearing in spin-order-induced ferroelectric phases [1].

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Raman scattering yields cubic crystal grain orientation

The anisotropy of Raman scattering was applied to determine the orientation of individual microcrystal grains, as small as a few µm, of GaV4S8 polycrystalline compound. This was possible by measuring polarised Raman spectra as a function of rotation of the sample along the laser direction. On comparing the resulting set of spectra with a computer simulation for particular symmetries, the orientation of the crystal grains could of the determined with good precision.

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Soft mode driven local ferroelectric transition in lead-based relaxors

Analysis of IR and THz spectra using Bruggeman effective medium approach revealed that the mesoscopic structure of Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 and Pb(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3 consists of dynamic randomly oriented uniaxially anisotropic polar nanoregions with harder transverse optical polar modes in the direction along the local dipoles [1,2].

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Degenerate (identity) chemical reactions in ferro­elastic crystals

The work points to reconsideration of degenerate chemical reactions because of the chemical reactions which take place in a solid phase where the orientation of the substituting molecules is maintained. The work points to the examples of a ferroelastic switching which is accompanied by braking and reestablisment of chemical bonds. The article suggests that the definition of the degenerate chemical reactions might distinguish the reactions where the truly identical molecules are formed from those ones where the resulting molecules are enantiomers or enatiomorphs in case of domains.

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2018
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Spatio-temporal distribution of relative Ti-O6 displacements in cubic BaTiO3

BaTiO3 is often considered a model ferroelectric material in which the dielectric properties are defined by the displacements of Ti ions with respect to surrounding oxygen atoms. However, despite the decades of a dedicated research, certain controversies have remained as to the description of collective movements of the Ti ions. We approached this problem using nonoscale-oriented X-ray scattering methods and large-scale atomistic simulations [1]. Together these allowed us to show that the Ti dynamics can be exhaustively explained by phonons excited on a timescale of picoseconds.

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Electromagnon in the Y-type hexaferrite BaSrCoZnFe11AlO22

We investigated static and dynamic magnetoelectric properties of single crystalline BaSrCoZnFe11AlO22 which is a room-temperature multiferroic with Y-type hexaferrite crystal structure. THz and Raman spectra reveal an electrically active spin wave (electromagnon) below 300 K at ≈1.2 THz. We show that the electromagnon is activated due to the magnetostriction mechanism involving spin vibrations along the hexagonal axis.

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Wide Range Dielectric and Infrared Spectroscopy of (Nb+In) co-doped rutile ceramics

The dielectric response of ceramics of co-doped rutile Ti1-x(Nb0.5In0.5)xO2 has been measured via a combination of impedance, high-frequency coaxial, THz transmission, and IR reflectivity spectroscopies spanning 15 decades of frequency between 0.1 Hz and 240 THz [1]. It is argued that the colossal dielectric permittivity reported by other authors can be explained by a combination of thin low-conducting grain boundaries and low-conducting depletion near-electrode layers which give rise to thermally activated dielectric relaxations in higher radiofrequency and low-frequency ranges, respectively.

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Physics and applications of charged domain walls

One of the “inner” properties of ferroic walls is their ability to carry some bound charge, which is apt to be screened with free carries. Walls carrying bound charge are termed charged domain walls (CDWs). Remarkably, the screening takes place even in the case where the adjacent domains are insulating. Keeping in mind that the walls are often easily movable, CDWs can be viewed as ultrathin movable conductive sheets embedded into an insulating material.

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Electric-field-induced transition from incommensurately to commensurately modulated phase

Antiferroelectric-like polarization hysteresis loops in Ba4Sm2Ti4Nb6O30 and Ba4Eu2Ti4Nb6O30 were explained by electric-field induced structural phase transition from nonpolar incommensurately modulated structure to polar and commensurately modulated phase [1]. This discovery opens new perspective direction of investigation of lead-free materials for possible electric energy storage.

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Quantum theory of terahertz conductivity of semiconductor nanostructures

In collaboration with T. Ostatnický of Charles University we participated to the development of the first theory of the quantum conductivity describing the transport in the terahertz spectral range, which does not contain internal contradictions. We have shown that the broken translation symmetry of the nanostructures induces a broadband drift-diffusion current which must be explicitly taken into account.

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Přibramite, a new Se-containing mineral from the Czech Republic, characterized by Raman spectroscopy

Minerals containing selenium are interesting and worthy to study due to its inherent photovoltaic effect. The characterization and understanding of these natural minerals is important to be able to make synthetic analogues.

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Unusual behaviour under the applied electric field for new cholesteric liquid crystals with extremely short pitch

Unusual behaviour of new cholesteric liquid crystals has been observed under applied electric field. Positive dielectric anisotropy causes reorientation of the long molecular axis along the applied electric field direction. Due to extremely short pitch length a stripe texture has been observed under applied electric field. A model based on disclinations has been proposed and anchoring energy evaluated.

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The ferroelectric phase transition of the tetragonal tungsten-bronze SBN-35 unveiled

The structural ferroelectric-paraelectric transition has been definitely observed by electron diffraction tomography in the tetragonal tungsten-bronze (TTB) Sr0.35Ba0.61Nb2O6.04 (SBN-35) from the paraelectric group P4/mbm to the ferroelectric Pmbm. At 625 K, the refined structure shows that the average structure of SBN-35 is tetragonal with an almost negligible orthorhombic distortion [Fig.1].

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Departure from BCS response in photo-excited superconducting NbN films observed by terahertz spectroscopy

Ultrashort laser pulses can be used to induce transient exotic states of matter and cause phenomena of a vital interest such as room temperature superconductivity. We have focused on the photo-induced dynamics in niobium nitride (NbN) thin films [1] under strong excitation.

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2017
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Domain wall contribution to lattice dynamics and permittivity of BiFeO3

Ferroelectric materials are known for their exceptionally high dielectric permittivity. It turns out, that important part of it originates from a material's complicated microstructure and in particular from interfaces between ferroelectric domains.

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First-principles-based Landau-Devonshire potential for BiFeO3

We describe a first-principles-based computational strategy for determination of the Landau-Devonshire potential.

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Fast polarization mechanisms in uniaxial tungsten-bronze SBN-81

The high-frequency dielectric response of the uniaxial strontium barium niobate (SrxBa1−xNb2O6) crystals with 81% of Sr (x = 0.81) was studied from 1 kHz to 30 THz along the polar axis in a wide temperature interval [E. Buixaderas et al, Sci. Rep. 7, 18034 (2017)]. Relaxor properties were observed in the complex dielectric response and four main excitations were ascertained below the phonon frequencies. These fast polarization mechanisms take place at THz, GHz and MHz ranges and show different temperature evolution.

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New type of dimers composed of bent-core molecules connected through their central cores

Structurally new type of dimers composed of bent-core molecules connected through their central cores has been prepared and studied. The switching behaviour in the applied electric field is reported.

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Infrared, terahertz and microwave spectroscopy of the soft and central modes in PMN

Analysis of IR and THz spectra using Bruggeman effective medium approach revealed that the mesoscopic structure of Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 (PMN) consists of randomly oriented uniaxially anisotropic polar nanodomains with harder transverse optical polar modes in the direction along the local dipoles.

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2016
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Existence conditions for ferroaxial materials

All 212 species of structural phase transitions with a macroscopic symmetry breaking were inspected with respect to the simultaneous occurrence of the ferroelastic, ferroelectric, and ferroaxial properties.

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Picosecond charge transport in rutile at high carrier densities studied by transient terahertz spectroscopy

In rutile the charge carriers form polarons with high effective mass owing to the strong electron-phonon coupling. In this paper we studied ultrafast terahertz photoconductivity in rutile under strong optical excitation.

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Coating of Ti39%Nb substrates by ferroelectric BaTiO3 promotes the bone cell growth

We proved that ferroelectric immersed in a liquid influences electric charge distribution at the surface. Therefore ferroelectric coating on bone implant surface promotes bone cell growth and proliferation, healing should be improved [1].

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Extrinsic influence on the dielectric response of morphotropic PZT ceramics

The dielectric behaviour of the most famous piezoelectric material, Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 ceramics, below room temperature is explained by the topology of the sample, and not by intrinsic structural changes.

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All-organic liquid crystalline radicals with a spin unit in the outer position of a bent-core system

All-organic paramagnetic liquid crystals offer the advantage of a long-range order of liquid crystalline phases and the magnetic properties of the individual molecules. In such systems, the magnetic properties can be modified by phase transition or the application of external fields. In our work paramagnetic all-organic bent-core liquid crystals having the radical-bearing unit (TEMPO) in the terminal position of an elongating side arm are studied.

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Can a tensile tensile strained TiO2 thin film be ferroelectric?

A series of papers about discovery of new ferroelectrics using PFM microscopy has recently been published. On the example of strained TiO2 thin films, which exhibit ferroelectric-like hysteresis loops, we have shown that PFM response can come from electrochemical effects like migration of defects.

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Electromagnon in Z-type hexaferrite (Ba0.2Sr0.8)3Co2Fe24O41

THz spectra of Z-type hexaferrite (Ba0.2Sr0.8)3Co2Fe24O41 reveal an electrically active spin wave (electromagnon) at temperatures below 250 K. This excitation is activated due to dynamic magnetoelectric coupling (exchange striction).

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Macroscopic heterophase pattern in Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 crystals

Polarization dependence of the Raman scattering intensities demonstrate that lamellar structures observed in (1 - x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-xPbTiO3 (PMN-xPT) single crystals are composed of tetragonal-like and rhombohedral-like layers extending over macroscopic (mm) lengths.

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2015
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Broadband dielectric spectroscopy of lead-free relaxor ferroelectrics

Ba(Zr,Ti)O3 (BZT) and Na1/2Bi1/2TiO3 (NBT) have recently become recently the most studied lead-free relaxor materials for their attractive piezoelectric and interesting physical properties.

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Compositional behaviour of phonons in Pb(Zr1-xTix)O3 ceramics

Raman spectra of PZT ceramics were studied systematically in a broad temperature interval (10–600 K) and a broad Ti/Zr concentration range around the morphotropic phase boundary (x = 0.25–0.70) [ E. Buixaderas et al., Phys. Rev. B 91, 014104 (2015) ].

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Ultrafast photoconductivity in semiconductor nanostructures

Time-resolved terahertz spectroscopy provides a useful insight into charge carrier motion in nanostructured semiconductors: it provides a contact-free access to local response of charge carriers inside nanostructures averaged over macroscopic volume of a sample. This is a very pertinent quantity for many applications of disordered materials which still have a larger potential than perfectly aligned nanostructures.

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Ising lines: Natural topological defects within ferroelectric Bloch walls

Phase-field simulations demonstrate that the polarization order-parameter field in the Ginzburg-Landau-Devonshire model of rhombohedral ferroelectric BaTiO3 allows for an interesting linear defect, stable under simple periodic boundary conditions. This linear defect, here called the Ising line, can be described as an about 2-nm-thick intrinsic paraelectric nanorod acting as a highly mobile borderline between finite portions of Bloch-like domain walls of opposite helicity.

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Unique effect of the electric field on a new liquid crystalline lactic acid derivative

We found a unique effect of the applied electric field for new chiral liquid crystalline compound, namely lactic acid derivative. We observed reversible transformation of the planar TGBA texture to the homeotropic one, homogeneously dark in crossed polarizers. The transformation is an analogy of the Frederiks transition known in nematics and only rarely can be found for smectics.

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2014
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Polar fluctuations of nanoscale size as a source of giant dielectric response of relaxor ferroelectrics

Characteristic frequencies of nanoscale polar fluctuations have been resolved by means of neutron diffuse scattering measurements on a Sr0.61Ba0.39Nb2O6 single crystal in the MHz-GHz frequency region.

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Ultra-broadband spectroscopy of dielectric-conductor nanocomposites

The ultra-broadband dielectric spectroscopy is particularly useful for studying dielectric–conductor nanocomposites, particularly near the electrical percolation threshold. Theoretically, we have studied the spectra of effective dielectric response of such composites using several models within the effective medium approximation. It was shown that the divergence of the static permittivity at the percolation threshold is caused by a strong dielectric relaxation, which softens on approaching the threshold with changing the composition, passing through the whole frequency range from infrared down to zero [1-3].

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Catching intermediate phases in antiferroelectric single crystals

Ferroelectric and antiferroelectric single crystals show phase transitions that can be evidence by different experimental methods. In this work we investigated single crystals of antiferroelectric PbZrO3 substituted with 1% of Ti (PZT 99/1) by means of optical microscopy, micro-Raman scattering, second harmonic generation and dielectric spectroscopy, on heating to and cooling from its cubic phase.

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Preparation of CaMn7O12 single phase ceramics

Variety of multiferroic materials is prepared in our department. One of them was CaMn7O12 which exhibits strong magnetoelectric coupling. Small crystals (~ 0.1 mm) were prepared from high temperature solution of CaCl2 and MnO2, but they contained 9% of undesirable admixtures. An alternative method – modified sol-gel synthesis using water solutions of Ca and Mn nitrates and malic acid – produced pure CaMn7O12 powder with less than 1% admixtures. However, this method was not reproducible.

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Molecular tilt induced by gold nanoparticles or clusters of nanoparticles in the liquid crystalline smectic A phase of “de Vries” type of compound

For the first time a tilt of molecules around the gold nanoparticles or their clusters has been observed in the liquid crystalline smectic A phase. We have shown the tilt is a consequence of interaction of the molecules with the surface of nanoparticle leading to a local smectic A-smectic C transition. Nanoparticles attracted to edge dislocations enable to visualize them under an optical polarizing microscope.

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Paraelectromagnon in Multiferroic CaMn7O12

We investigated spin and lattice dynamics of CaMn7O12 ceramics using infrared (IR), THz and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) spectroscopies in the temperature range 2 to 590 K, and, at low temperatures, in applied magnetic fields up to 12 T

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2013 and older
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New approach to preparation of highly tunable microwave dielectrics

Srn+1TinO3n+1 is paraelectric material with layered perovskite structure. We have shown that thin films of Srn+1TinO3n+1 become ferroelectric under tensile strain and their critical temperatures increase to room temperature with rising n. Owing to this, their permittivity and electric tunability increase.

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Nanocomposite of superparamagnetic maghemite nanoparticles and ferroelectric liquid crystal

We present a novel type of hybrid nanocomposite prepared by mixing maghemite nanoparticles (MNPs) and a chiral liquid crystalline compound. The multiferroic system exhibits the ferroelectricity as well as superparamagnetic (SPM) properties. The impact of nanoparticles and effect of applied magnetic field on ferroelectric liquid crystalline properties were established. The magnetic behavior is typical for a system of SPM nanoparticles with inter-particle dipolar interactions and surface spin disorder.

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Phase transition in ferroelectric domain walls of BaTiO3

The seminal paper by Zhirnov (1958 Zh. Eksp. Teor. Fiz. 35 1175–80) explained why the structure of domain walls in ferroelectrics and ferromagnets is so different. We have recently realized that the antiparallel ferroelectric walls in rhombohedral ferroelectric BaTiO3 can be switched between the Ising-like state (typical for ferroelectrics) and a Bloch-like state (unusual for ferroelectric walls but typical for magnetic ones) [see Figure 1] by a compressive epitaxial stress.

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Dielectric response of a phase transition in domain wall

Computer simulations based on Ginzburg-Landau-Devonshire theory was used to study details of a phase-transition between Ising and Bloch type of a domain wall.

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Electron localization in CdS nanocrystals

Ultrafast electron dynamics and short-range electron transport in CdS nanocrystals prepared by chemical-bath deposition were investigated in terahertz regime [Z. Mics et al., Phys. Rev. B 83, 155326 (2011)]. Initially high mobility of photogenerated electrons exhibits a decrease within 1 picosecond due to the relaxation of their excess energy. Role of nanocrystal surfaces and nanocrystalline aggregates in electron transport was elucidated.

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New experimental method allowed to record dispersion curves of polar lattice modes in magnetoelectric BiFeO3

Bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) is a prototypical multiferroic system exhibiting extraordinary properties; it is ferroelectric up to TC ~ 1100 K as well as antiferromagnetic up to TN ~ 640 K. Characterisation of polar phonon modes is essential for understanding its dielectric and electromechanical behaviour.

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Reentrancy phenomenon of a smectic A phase in chiral liquid crystalline compounds

Unique sequence of phases was discovered in a chiral smectic, namely reentrance of orthogonal paraelectric A phase below the ferroelectric C phase. This behavior was explained by non-monotonous temperature dependence of the principal coefficient in the free energy expansion and microscopically by changes of molecular conformations and intermolecular distances due to occurrence a lateral bulky group in the molecule. This phenomenon is accompanied with anomalies in dielectric, optical and switching properties.

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Magnetoelectric multiferroics

Magnetoelectric multiferroics are materials, which exhibit simultaneously magnetic and ferroelectric order. There is theoretically possible to influence magnetic or ferroelectric domains with electric or magnetic fields, respectively, therefore these materials are intensively studied for their promising potential applications in non-volatile memories. Unfortunately, there are only few multiferroics in nature and most of them work only at low temperatures. We suggested to use large mechanical strain in ultrathin films for preparation of new „artificial“ multiferroics.

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Study of linear and nonlinear optical properties of GUHP

Within a common project with I. Němec and M. Fridrichová from Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, focused on development of new advanced nonlinear-optical materials, we studied in detail the optical properties of guanylurea(1+) hydrogen phosphite (GUHP) crystal.

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Piezoelectric response of nanotwinned ferroelectric perovskites

Computer simulations based on Ginzburg-Landau-Devonshire theory has benn used to investigate piezoelectric properties of tetragonal BaTiO3 crystals. We have shown that piezoelectric response of twinned BaTiO3 increases with increasing density of 90-degree domain walls.

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