トップページへ

2021 Faculty Courses School of Materials and Chemical Technology Department of Materials Science and Engineering Graduate major in Materials Science and Engineering

Advanced Course of Dielectric and Ferroelectric Materials

Academic unit or major
Graduate major in Materials Science and Engineering
Instructor(s)
Takaaki Tsurumi / Takuya Hoshina / Takeshi Kobayashi / Sunao Kurimura
Class Format
Lecture
Media-enhanced courses
-
Day of week/Period
(Classrooms)
5-6 Mon / 5-6 Thu
Class
-
Course Code
MAT.C401
Number of credits
200
Course offered
2021
Offered quarter
4Q
Syllabus updated
Jul 10, 2025
Language
Japanese

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

There are currently many devices using dielectricity that have been put into practice, and dielectricity has become an important area of material science. Polarization controls dielectricity. Students in this course will first gain a classical understanding of the concept of polarization through explanations from the perspective of the electromagnetism of dielectricity, followed by the instructor using classical physics and quantum theory to explain the inducement mechanisms of polarization. The polarization of a material varies with its frequency. This phenomenon is called dielectric dispersion, and is important for understanding dielectrics from a material science perspective, and applying dielectrics. The first half of this course deals with paraelectrics which are polarized by an electric field, but the latter half covers theories and applications of piezoelectric materials which are polarized by stress, pyroelectrics which hold spontaneous polarization without an external signal, as well as ferroelectrics, for which the orientation of spontaneous polarization changes with the electric field.

Course description and aims

The purpose of this lecture is to understand the meaning of physical quantities to describe dielectric property of substances as well as the concept of polarization based on the material science. Furthermore, this lecture aims to recall electromagnetic theory, thermodynamics, quantum physics etc., through the learning of dielectricity.

Keywords

Polarization, Dielectricity, Ferroelectricity, Piezoelectricity

Competencies

  • Specialist skills
  • Intercultural skills
  • Communication skills
  • Critical thinking skills
  • Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

1) Towards the end of class, students are given exercise problems related to what is taught on that day to solve.
2) Attendance is taken in every class.

Course schedule/Objectives

Course schedule Objectives
Class 1

The concept of electric field, electric displacement and potential

Understanding concepts of electric field, electric displacement and potential

Class 2

Thermodynamic description of dielectric responses of materials

Understanding thermodynamic theory to describe dielecric response of materials

Class 3

Maxwell's equations

Understanding Maxwell's equations and their meaning

Class 4

Classical theory of polarization

Understanding polarization mechanisms based on classical theory

Class 5

Quantum theory of polarization

Understanding polarization mechanisms based on quantum theory

Class 6

Debye type dielectric relaxation

Understanding Debye type dielectric relaxation

Class 7

Resonance type dielectric relaxation

Understanding resonance type dielectric relaxation

Class 8

Spontaneous polarization and ferroelectrics

Understanding concepts of spontaneous polarization and ferroelectricity

Class 9

Point group and tensor

Understanding point group and tensor

Class 10

Fundamental of piezoelectricity

Understanding concept of piezoelectricity

Class 11

Material processing for ferroelectric and piezoelectric materials

Understanding material processing for ferroelectric and piezoelectric materials

Class 12

Characterization technique of piezoelectricity

Understanding characterization techniques of piezoelectricity

Class 13

Application of ferroelectric and piezoelectric materials I

Understanding characteristics of ferroelectric and piezoelectric devices

Class 14

Application of ferroelectric and piezoelectric materials II

Understanding characteristics of ferroelectric and piezoelectric devices

Study advice (preparation and review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

None required.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Course materials are provided during class.

Evaluation methods and criteria

1) Students will be assessed on their understanding of "theory of polarization", "dielectric relaxation", "ferroelectricity", "piezoelectric materials and their application".
2) Students' course scores are based on the quality of exercise problems

Related courses

  • MAT.C306 : Dielectric Materials Science

Prerequisites

No prerequisites.