Metal Oxide-Based Thin Film Structures: Formation, Characterization and Application of Interface-based Phenomena (Metal Oxides)

Metal Oxide-Based Thin Film Structures: Formation, Characterization and Application of Interface-Based Phenomena bridges the gap between thin film deposition and device development by exploring the synthesis, properties and applications of thin film interfaces.

Part I deals with theoretical and experimental aspects of epitaxial growth, the structure and morphology of oxide-metal interfaces deposited with different deposition techniques and new developments in growth methods. Part II concerns analysis techniques for the electrical, optical, magnetic and structural properties of thin film interfaces. In Part III, the emphasis is on ionic and electronic transport at the interfaces of Metal-oxide thin films.

Part IV discusses methods for tailoring metal oxide thin film interfaces for specific applications, including microelectronics, communication, optical electronics, catalysis, and energy generation and conservation.

This book is an essential resource for anyone seeking to further their knowledge of metal oxide thin films and interfaces, including scientists and engineers working on electronic devices and energy systems and those engaged in research into electronic materials.

• Introduces the theoretical and experimental aspects of epitaxial growth for the benefit of readers new to the field
• Explores state-of-the-art analysis techniques and their application to interface properties in order to give a fuller understanding of the relationship between macroscopic properties and atomic-scale manipulation
• Discusses techniques for tailoring thin film interfaces for specific applications, including information, electronics and energy technologies, making this book essential reading for materials scientists and engineers alike

Nini Pryds is a Professor and head the research section ‘Electrofunctional Materials’ at the Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, The Technical University of Denmark (DTU), where he leads a group of about 35 researchers working in the field of magnetic refrigeration, thermoelectricity and functional oxide thin films. During the last 15 years he has played a leading role in a new cross-disciplinary research fields in the area of functional materials for energy application. In Denmark he has started and matured an area now known as magnetic refrigeration, which is based on the magnetocaloric effect. His group is recognized internationally as one of the leading group worldwide in this area. At DTU he also started the work on high temperature thermoelectric materials and his group succeeded to develop the highest zT p-type oxide materials reported so far. His group has developed a thermoelectric oxide module, which currently holds the highest efficiency oxide module. His interest includes also the area of epitaxial growth of complex oxides, which include materials physics of complex oxides. The most exciting result of his group is the creation of a metallic interface between amorphous oxide films and crystalline SrTiO3 (STO) controlled by chemical redox reactions at oxide interfaces. His group has also showed for the first time a new interface system, which exhibits electron mobilities greater than 100,000 cm2V-1s-1 at 2 K. An original concept of modulation-doped complex oxide interfaces by charge transfer which lead to the observation the quantum Hall effect at these oxide interfaces was developed in his group.

Vincenzo Esposito is a Full Professor in “Ceramic Science and Engineering” and technology coordinator at the Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark. He developed his career at Risø DTU National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, University of Florida, and at the Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN) – Brazil. His research interest is primarily on functional inorganic nanomaterials and processing for emerging technologies in energy, catalysis, electromechanical, electronics, and electrochemical systems. His research profile lies at the frontiers between nanoionics, solid-state chemistry and advanced materials processing.