Ceramic Processing and Basic Science

Ceramic processing is fundamental to the development and exploitation of established and novel Electroceramics. This symposium will focus on recent advances in powder and ceramic processing and the basic science of functional ceramics. Contributions are invited on any aspect of ceramic processing, characterisation or the basic science of the ceramics. The themes will include, but will not be limited to:

• Powder synthesis; colloidal processes, powder
• characterisation
  
• Shaping, forming and compaction
  
• Non-conventional processing routes
  
• Sintering processes
  
• Microwave, laser, plasma and SHS sintering
  
• Microstructure development
  
• Rapid Prototyping
• Reaction processes and kinetics
  
• Controlling structure, shape and properties
  
• Phase transformations
  
• Crystallography and crystal chemistry

Thin Films

The theme focuses on functional thin film materials.  Thin films are be used in devices but they can also assist our understanding of Materials systems by providing carefully controlled structures that are amenable to analysis by a range of techniques. Low-dimensional materials such as thin films, nanocrystals, nanowires, and nanotubes are at the forefront of materials research. Novel structures composed of multilayers offer new insights into unusual materials’ systems. The physical, chemical and electromagnetic phenomena observed in these systems suggest new application areas by combining e.g.ferroelectric and magnetic properties, or ionic and electronic conductivities.

• Thin film deposition techniques (sputtering, CVD, PLD, solution methods etc)
• Low dimensional structures(e.g., heterostructures, anisotropic shapes, and multilayered films)
• Substrate film interface issues - Misfit stresses and relaxation mechanisms in oxide films
• Tailoring nanostructures through novel processing
• Ferroelectric, piezoelectric, magnetic and multiferroic films
• Metallization for thin film circuits
• Lithography for functional thin films
• Characterisation of thin films (X-Ray, high frequency methods, EBSD, EPMA, Raman etc)
• Applications of thin films (frequency agility microwave materials, THz imaging)

Sensors and Actuators

• Synthesis and characterization of sensor and detector materials
• Piezoelectric, ferroelectric and multi-ferroic sensors
• Novel nano-structured materials for sensors and detectors
• Novel materials for gas sensors
• Novel sensing and detection techniques
• Novel fabrication technologies
• Novel actuator techniques and structures 
• Integration and applications of smart materials

Interfaces

• Experimental Investigations of Grain Boundaries and Interfaces
• Chemistry and microstructure of Grain Boundaries
• Modelling and simulation of Interfaces
• Kinetics and Stability of Interfaces
• Electronic and Ionic Transport at interfaces
• Functional Properties of Interfaces

Ionic, Electronic and Mixed Conductors, Fuel Cells

• Oxygen Ion, Proton and Mixed Conductors; Conduction Mechanisms, Materials Limitations
• Electrode Materials and Microstructural Engineering; Electrode Processes and Limitations
• Ceramic and Metallic Interconnects; Degradation Mechanisms, Coatings, Life Prediction
• Mechanical Properties
• Thermal Properties
• Electrochemical Performance, Performance Enhancement and Stability of Cells and Stacks
• Reliability and Degradation
• Surface and Interfacial Reactions; Materials Transport and Electrode Poisoning; Catalytic Degradation

Superconducting and Magnetic Materials

• Semiconductors and Superconductors
  
  • Ceramic superconductors, high-band-gap semiconductors, multifunctional superconductor/magnetic materials, processing, microstructure development, electrical properties
• Magnetic materials
  
  • Defect chemistry, microstructure development, perovskite manganites, room temperature ferromagnetic semiconductors systems, spintronic device development, multiferroic materials, applications

Varistor and Thermistors

• Varistors
  
  • Basic science, microstructure development, defect chemistry, grain boundary electronic structure, novel ZnO-based varistor materials, SnO2-based varistor materials, TiO2-based varistor materials novel materials, thick film applications
• Thermistors
  
  • NTC systems, PTC systems, basic science, microstructure development, defect chemistry, grain boundary electronic structure, applications

Biological and Medical Applications

• Properties: electrical, optical, magnetic, mechanical, chemical,  heat conductivity,  biocompatibility, assembling of bio and no biostructures, biosensors, bioelectronics, instrumentation, bioceramics and biocompoistes, nanostructures and nanostructured materials fabrication, characterization, fucntionalization and applications, etc.