About this Research Topic
In early 1990s mesoporous materials in which a solid material contains a highly ordered mesoporous framework were discovered. Since then, it has attracted a wide attention in both daily life and in electronic manufacturing. The pores can be uniformly produced in comparison with conventional materials. Recently it was reported that a new method for strain engineering to apply BaTiO3 and SrTiO3 in high-temperature ferroelectric applications. Due to the concave mesoporous surface geometry and formation of a new interface between BaTiO3 and SrTiO3, many strains can be generated in the mesostructured composite leading to a dramatic enhancement of ferroelectric properties. Later, the same concept was used to fabricate a dielectric capacitor using multilayered mesostructured SrTiO3/BaTiO3 composite thin films. Moreover, the mesoporous HfO2 thin films were used as hard templates for scalable crystallization of highly strained Al2O3 insulator crystals soaked inside the mesopores. The obtained mesostructured HfO2/Al2O3 composite thin films have a reduced leakage current and improved stability while retaining the ionic conductivity on substrate surface through mesoporous paths for ion-conducting devices.
Although the intensive research and great potential of mesoporous materials for device fabrication has advanced, they still suffer from many problems. For example, the mesoporous framework is so leaky that it cannot give higher bias and shows low stability, and they have very low energy densities compared to bulk materials. Tuning the framework composition and monitoring pores periodicity is challenging as well. To address these drawbacks researchers are working widely on the following aspects. First, fabricating stable mesostructured composite thin films through filling the pores with foreign crystals to create new interface with new physical and enhanced properties. Second, doping the framework with foreign elements (e.g., Co, Pb) and fabricating complex frameworks to add an additional functionality to the intrinsic properties of the original framework. Third, precise arrangement and integration of the mesoporous materials to discover novel physical properties and phenomena arising from size and shape in nanoscale. Finally, developing appropriate soft templates which allow for the formation of highly ordered and intact mesoporous frameworks.
Our aim is to develop new mesoporous and mesostructured materials that will exhibit advanced and innovative functions and new physical properties for nano device fabrication. We invite researchers to contribute original research papers as well as review articles in the following, but not limited to, themes:
• Materials formation, characterization, and performance in both thin film and powder forms
• Magnetic, dielectric, ferroelectric, piezoelectric, etc. materials for ion-conducting devices (e.g., rechargeable batteries), dielectric and supercapacitors, electrolyzers, and fuel cells
• Chemical synthesis of mesoporous materials affording strain engineering for catalytic and electric applications
• Manipulating the mesoporous framework with foreign elements for additional functionality
• Self-assembly of mesocrystals from small crystallites and their derivatives and composites
Although the intensive research and great potential of mesoporous materials for device fabrication has advanced, they still suffer from many problems. For example, the mesoporous framework is so leaky that it cannot give higher bias and shows low stability, and they have very low energy densities compared to bulk materials. Tuning the framework composition and monitoring pores periodicity is challenging as well. To address these drawbacks researchers are working widely on the following aspects. First, fabricating stable mesostructured composite thin films through filling the pores with foreign crystals to create new interface with new physical and enhanced properties. Second, doping the framework with foreign elements (e.g., Co, Pb) and fabricating complex frameworks to add an additional functionality to the intrinsic properties of the original framework. Third, precise arrangement and integration of the mesoporous materials to discover novel physical properties and phenomena arising from size and shape in nanoscale. Finally, developing appropriate soft templates which allow for the formation of highly ordered and intact mesoporous frameworks.
Our aim is to develop new mesoporous and mesostructured materials that will exhibit advanced and innovative functions and new physical properties for nano device fabrication. We invite researchers to contribute original research papers as well as review articles in the following, but not limited to, themes:
• Materials formation, characterization, and performance in both thin film and powder forms
• Magnetic, dielectric, ferroelectric, piezoelectric, etc. materials for ion-conducting devices (e.g., rechargeable batteries), dielectric and supercapacitors, electrolyzers, and fuel cells
• Chemical synthesis of mesoporous materials affording strain engineering for catalytic and electric applications
• Manipulating the mesoporous framework with foreign elements for additional functionality
• Self-assembly of mesocrystals from small crystallites and their derivatives and composites
Keywords: Framework, pores, periodicity, nanoscale, mesocrystals, functionality
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