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Nanomaterials
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Dielectric and Ferroelectric Properties of Ceramic Nanocomposites
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Dielectric and Ferroelectric Properties of Ceramic Nanocomposites

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanocomposite Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 July 2026 | Viewed by 6171

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Yijun Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Electronic Materials Research Laboratory, Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, International Center for Dielectric Research, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Interests: functional thin film materials and devices; wide bandgap semiconductor materials and devices; photodetector

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Investigating dielectric and ferroelectric nanostructured ceramics is crucial for the advancement of electronic technology. These materials, designed at the nanoscale to enhance characteristics such as high dielectric constant, piezoelectricity, and energy storage efficiency, are foundational to innovations in electronics, energy, and healthcare. Nanostructuring improves performance, allowing for the creation of smaller, faster, and more efficient capacitors, transducers, and memory devices, while also lowering energy consumption. Their applications include wearable sensors, renewable energy storage, and biomedical implants. By optimizing these ceramics, researchers are making strides toward high-energy-density electronics, compact energy systems, and precise medical tools, tackling global issues related to efficiency, miniaturization, and environmental impact.

For this Special Issue, we invite original research articles that showcase innovative experimental or theoretical studies on topics such as the synthesis and characterization of nanostructured ceramics and thin films with improved dielectric and ferroelectric properties, the exploration of defects, domains, microstructures, doping, size-dependent and interface-related characteristics, and the creation of new device concepts. Review articles that provide comprehensive analyses of specific subtopics in this field, such as recent advancements in lead-free ferroelectric ceramics or innovative dielectric and ferroelectric materials, are also strongly encouraged. Our goal is to deepen the understanding of the fundamental principles that govern these properties at the nanoscale, investigate new methods to enhance and customize them for particular applications, and identify the challenges that hinder the practical use of nanostructured ceramic-based devices.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Yijun Zhang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nanostructured ceramics
  • dielectric properties
  • ferroelectric properties
  • thin films
  • energy storage

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1479 KB  
Article
Size-Dependent Permittivity for Alumina Powders
by Tien-Fu Yang, Hsien-Wen Chao, Bo-Wie Tseng, Yu-Syuan Dai and Tsun-Hsu Chang
Nanomaterials 2026, 16(7), 436; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16070436 - 1 Apr 2026
Viewed by 552
Abstract
Alumina is a commonly used ceramic material known for high permittivity, low dielectric loss, good thermal conductivity, and low cost. In the development of electronic devices, the size effect of powdery materials is crucial, particularly in applications involving composite materials. This study introduces [...] Read more.
Alumina is a commonly used ceramic material known for high permittivity, low dielectric loss, good thermal conductivity, and low cost. In the development of electronic devices, the size effect of powdery materials is crucial, particularly in applications involving composite materials. This study introduces the field-enhancement method (FEM) to measure the resonant frequency (f0) and the quality factor (Q) of alumina powders packed in a Teflon container and placed on top of the central rod in the proposed cavity. The measured resonant condition (f0 and Q) is mapped to a contour plot and simulated using a high-frequency structure simulator (HFSS). The contour mapping technique allows the researchers to obtain the effective complex permittivity of alumina–air composites. The complex permittivity of the alumina powder is retrieved using a hybrid model and the effective medium theories (EMTs), respectively. The Landau–Lifshitz–Looyenga (LLL) model is compared with the results using the hybrid model for its applicability. The dielectric constant and the loss tangent of the alumina powder are found to increase as the powder size reduces. A power relation is found to fit the obtained permittivity, covering sizes ranging from nanometers to micrometers, and a surface-charge scaling argument is proposed to explain the observed trend. This finding opens a new avenue for manipulation of permittivity in composite materials and has potential applications in stealth/absorber technology and as a self-limiter for grain growth during sintering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dielectric and Ferroelectric Properties of Ceramic Nanocomposites)
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9 pages, 3632 KB  
Article
Low-Temperature Synthesis of Highly Preferentially Oriented ε-Ga2O3 Films for Solar-Blind Detector Application
by He Tian, Yijun Zhang, Hong Wang, Daogui Liao, Jiale Di, Chao Liu, Wei Ren and Zuo-Guang Ye
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(24), 1867; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15241867 - 12 Dec 2025
Viewed by 764
Abstract
As one of the polymorphs of the gallium oxide family, ε gallium oxide (ε-Ga2O3) demonstrates promising potential in high-power electronic devices and solar-blind photodetection applications. However, the synthesis of pure-phase ε-Ga2O3 remains challenging through low-energy consumption [...] Read more.
As one of the polymorphs of the gallium oxide family, ε gallium oxide (ε-Ga2O3) demonstrates promising potential in high-power electronic devices and solar-blind photodetection applications. However, the synthesis of pure-phase ε-Ga2O3 remains challenging through low-energy consumption methods, due to its metastable phase of gallium oxide. In this study, we have fabricated pure-phase and highly oriented ε-Ga2O3 thin films on c-plane sapphire substrates via thermal atomic layer deposition (ALD) at a low temperature of 400 °C, utilizing low-reactive trimethylgallium (TMG) as the gallium precursor and ozone (O3) as the oxygen source. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results revealed that the in situ-grown ε-Ga2O3 films exhibit a preferred orientation parallel to the (002) crystallographic plane, and the pure ε phase remains stable following a post-annealing up to 800 °C, but it completely transforms into β-Ga2O3 once the thermal treatment temperature reaches 900 °C. Notably, post-annealing at 800 °C significantly enhanced the crystalline quality of ε-Ga2O3. To evaluate the optoelectronic characteristics, metal–semiconductor–metal (MSM)-structured solar-blind photodetectors were fabricated using the ε-Ga2O3 films. The devices have an extremely low dark current (<1 pA), a high photo-to-dark current ratio (>106), a maximum responsivity (>1 A/W), and the optoelectronic properties maintained stability under varying illumination intensities. This work provides valuable insights into the low-temperature synthesis of high-quality ε-Ga2O3 films and the development of ε-Ga2O3-based solar-blind photodetectors for practical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dielectric and Ferroelectric Properties of Ceramic Nanocomposites)
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Review

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35 pages, 8508 KB  
Review
Recent Advances in Dielectric and Ferroelectric Behavior of Ceramic Nanocomposites: Structure Property Relationships and Processing Strategies
by Nouf Ahmed Althumairi, Mokhtar Hjiri, Abdullah M. Aldukhayel, Anouar Jbeli and Kais Iben Nassar
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(17), 1329; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15171329 - 29 Aug 2025
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 4405
Abstract
In the race toward next-generation electronics and energy systems, ceramic nanocomposites have taken center stage due to their remarkable dielectric and ferroelectric functionalities. By pushing the boundaries of nanoscale engineering, recent studies have shown how microstructural control and interfacial design can unlock unprecedented [...] Read more.
In the race toward next-generation electronics and energy systems, ceramic nanocomposites have taken center stage due to their remarkable dielectric and ferroelectric functionalities. By pushing the boundaries of nanoscale engineering, recent studies have shown how microstructural control and interfacial design can unlock unprecedented levels of polarization, permittivity, and frequency stability. This review presents a critical and up-to-date synthesis of the last decade’s progress in ceramic-based nanocomposites, with a special focus on the structure property processing nexus. Diverse processing techniques ranging from conventional sintering to advanced spark plasma sintering and scalable wet-chemical methods are analyzed for their influence on phase purity, grain boundary behavior, and interfacial polarization. The review also explores breakthroughs in lead-free and eco-friendly systems, flexible ferroelectric nanocomposites, and high-k dielectrics suitable for miniaturized devices. By identifying both the scientific opportunities and persistent challenges in this rapidly evolving field, this work aims to guide future innovations in material design, device integration, and sustainable performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dielectric and Ferroelectric Properties of Ceramic Nanocomposites)
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