2022 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 / Sunao Kurimura / Takeshi Kobayashi
- Class Format
- Lecture (Blended)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Mon (S7-201) / 5-6 Thu (S7-201)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- MAT.C401
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2022
- 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 | Debye type dielectric relaxation |
Understanding dielectric relaxation |
| Class 6 | Ferroelectricity |
Understanding ferroelectricity |
| Class 7 | Technical challenges for ceramic capacitors |
Learn about the technical challenges of ceramic capacitors |
| Class 8 | Physical properties of Barium titanate |
Understanding physical properties of Barium titanate |
| Class 9 | Size effect of barium titanate |
Understanding size effect of barium titanate |
| Class 10 | Defect chemistry and reliability of dielectrics |
Understanding defect chemistry and reliability of dielectrics |
| Class 11 | Polarization inversion devices |
Understanding polarization inversion devices |
| Class 12 | Piezoelectric MEMS devices 1 |
Understanding characteristics of piezoelectric MEMS devices |
| Class 13 | Piezoelectric MEMS devices 2 |
Understanding characteristics of piezoelectric MEMS devices |
| Class 14 | Ferroelectric thin film |
Understanding fabrication process and characteristics of ferroelectric thin film |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 30 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) Grades will be based on reports and final exam.
Related courses
- MAT.C306 ： Dielectric Materials Science
Prerequisites
No prerequisites.