Ferroelectrics UK and Ireland 2025
Abstract
Ferroelectric materials, including dielectric and piezoelectric ceramics and single crystals, have numerous uses within the maritime defence domain and related areas. Principally, they are used to project and receive underwater sonar signals, which can be used toidentify targets such as major assets and explosive mines, for obstacle avoidance and local area surveillance. Other applications for ferroelectric materials are widespread, ranging from power management and energy storage in electric devices and vehicles, self-powered sensors and components in communication systems. The development of piezoelectric and ferroelectric materials has gone through several significant step changes. They were first discovered in 1880 and were developed rapidly for military underwater sonar in the 1940s. However, it was not until the 1950s that piezoelectric materials became readily available in ceramic form, with a relatedsignificant increase in performance. Subsequent advances have come through the development of piezocomposites and single crystals.The project will support the Ferroelectrics UK and Ireland 2025 (FerroUKI 2025) conference. This is the flagship conference of the UK and Ireland Ferroelectrics Network, originally started in 2001 to bring academics and industry within the UK and abroad together to further the development of ferroelectrics and related materials. The Network was dormant from ca. 2015 # 2022, but has been restarted recently, initially through support of the 12th edition of the Electroceramics for End Users conference series, held in Glasgowwith Office of Naval Research (ONR) support in November 2023. A new committee was appointed in April 2024 to arrange the first standalone Ferroelectrics UK and Ireland meeting since 2015, held at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), Teddington. The FerroUKI 2025 conference is the primary vehicle to develop the UK and Ireland Ferroelectrics Network in the short term and will constitute the first meeting in 10 years that is specifically designed to bring researchers in this field together. The Network aims to maintain and further the global standing of academics working on topics related to ferroelectric materials science and engineering by fostering a collaborative and supportive culture to bring through the next generation of ferroelectric experts. A specific remit of the Network and associated conference series is to bridge the gap between research into ferroelectric materials and their applications, creating strong links between academia and industry in the UK and Ireland. Furthermore, bringing in leading experts and industry from around the world is paramount to fulfilling this vision by keeping abreast of latest developments and trends, and reflecting the increasing importance of the maritime domain with recent developments in geopolitics. Specific sessions in FerroUKI 2025 will be assigned to topics of particular interest to the ONR such as underwater sonar, asset integrity monitoring and energy harvesting The ONR support will be utilised in three ways. Firstly, it will support invited speakers who are global leaders in their fields, drawing in additional expertise to inform and educate the audience on new directions in ferroelectrics research. Secondly, it will assist PhD students and postdoctoral research associates financially to facilitate conference attendance, contributing to the education and training of future technical specialists who will assure the continuing health of relevant fields. Thirdly, it will provide a contribution towards the conference venue costs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 10, 2025
- Source ID
- N629092512037
Entities
People
- James Roscow
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Bath