Frenkel Ceramics Research Receives Funding from NSF

Anatoly Frenkel, professor in the Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering(MSCE), has received funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to continue his work in ceramics.

The project, which recently received the Ross Coffin Purdy Award, is led by scientists at Stony Brook University in collaboration with Igor Lubomirsky from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. Their research aims to tackle electrostrictors at the atomic level.

"Together with Professor Frenkel, we have discovered an oxide ceramic material that does not conform to our regular understanding of how chemical bonds should behave," said Lubomirsky. "My role in the project is to synthesize the ceramics and measure their mechanical, electromechanical and electrical properties."

Electrostrictors have the ability to convert electrical energy into mechanical motion. They are part of a special class of materials that can change shape when exposed to an electric field, which plays a crucial role in technologies that power our everyday lives. This is a property that makes them uniquely useful for certain advanced applications.

The team is particularly interested in ceramic materials where only a few percent of foreign atoms, atoms that replace the host atoms without changing the overall charge, can start a measurable change in volume when an electric field is applied. This subtle switch of atoms could hold the key to developing lead-free electrostrictive materials that are safer for both people and the environment.

"It has become somewhat of a hobby of mine to look for materials with a mystery at the local structure level that is not only fun to unravel but is also vital for understanding their functionality," said Frenkel. "The work of my long time colleague, Professor Lubomirsky is a constant source of inspiration for me because his group at Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, make novel ceramic materials for use in advanced technologies."

Researchers are focusing on zirconium-doped cerium oxide, a ceramic system that shows surprising responsiveness to electric fields. Using X-ray absorption spectroscopy, which uses powerful X-rays from a synchrotron, the team can observe how the atomic structure of the material changes under different conditions such as temperature, pressure or electric field strength.

The project aims to understand how tiny differences in bond lengths and small irregular movements of atoms, known as anharmonicities, cause this effect. If successful, this understanding could lead to designing new electrostrictive materials. These materials could combine strong responses with desirable stability, properties that are essential for sensors, actuators and energy-efficient technologies.

"This project represents an important advance in our understanding of electromechanical coupling in complex oxide ceramics," said Dilip Gersappe, professor and MSCE department chair. "By probing local structural distortions and anharmonic atomic dynamics, Professor Frenkel's work addresses fundamental mechanisms that govern electrostriction, while also enabling the rational design of high-performance, lead-free functional materials through sustained international collaboration."

This work moves science one step closer to creating environmentally friendly materials that move when electricity flows.

"The possibility of developing lead-free electrostrictive materials that are both high-performing and environmentally safe is an exciting step toward sustainable innovation," said Frenkel.

- Angelina Livigni