Derived from the new model, this graphic illustrates how semiconductor properties change as grain size decreases in polycrystalline perovskites with complex defect chemistries. Image: Doug Irving, NC State University.Researchers at North Carolina State University (NC State) have developed a computational model that helps users understand how changes in the nanostructure of materials affect their conductivity – with the goal of informing the development of new energy storage devices for a wide range of electronics.
Specifically, the researchers were focused on the materials used to make capacitors, which are energy storage devices used in everything from smartphones to satellites.
"You probably use thousands of capacitors in your day-to-day life, whether you know it or not," says Doug Irving, corresponding author of a paper on this work in the Journal of Applied Physics and an associate professor of materials science and engineering at NC State.
The material that a capacitor is made of affects its performance. So Irving and his collaborators set about developing a model to understand how structural characteristics in a material affect its conductivity.
"One of the things that we're pleased with is that this model looks at multiple spatial scales simultaneously – capturing everything that is happening from the device-level scale to the nanoscale," Irving says.
"For example, our model looks at things like defects and grain boundaries. Defects are things like missing atoms in a material's structure, or where the 'wrong' atoms are found in the structure. Grain boundaries are where different crystalline structures run into each other. Well, our model looks at how things like defects and grain boundaries affect the presence and movement of electrons through a material.
"Because different ways of processing a material can control the presence and distribution of things like defects and grain boundaries, the model gives us insights that can be used to engineer materials to meet the demands of specific applications. In other words, we're optimistic that the model can help us keep the cost of future capacitors low, while ensuring that they'll work well and last a long time."
This story is adapted from material from North Carolina State University, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier. Link to original source.