Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Os materiais ferroelétricos têm sido utilizados em muitas áreas da tecnologia e da ciência, pois possuem um grande número de aplicações, como: sensores; transdutores; capacitores; dispositivos ópticos; dentre outras. A busca por novos materiais cerâmicos ferroelétricos tem sido grande. Um dos materiais cerâmicos ferroelétricos mais estudados é o titanato de bário (BT). São vários os métodos de produção e caracterização do titanato de bário. Neste trabalho, pós cerâmicos de titanato de bário foram obtidos por reação do estado sólido a partir de misturas reacionais calcinadas em diferentes temperaturas entre 400C e 900C. Foram três as misturas reacionais: não dopadas; dopadas com 1%; e dopadas com 5% de dióxido de cério (CeO2). A identificação da formação do BT, nos pós cerâmicos produzidos, foi feita a partir de três técnicas de caracterização: difração de raios X (DRX); espectroscopia fotoacústica (PAS); e técnicas de análise térmica. Com a técnica DRX, difratogramas mostraram que a plena formação do titanato de bário ocorreu a partir da temperatura de calcinação de 700C. Para a amostra não dopada com cério e calcinada a 800C, houve deslocamento de todos os picos de difração. Nas amostras dopadas com dióxido de cério houve deslocamento de todos os picos de difração, em relação as amostras não dopadas. Observou-se também que nas amostras dopadas com 5% de CeO2, e calcinadas a 700C e 800C, resíduos de dióxido de cério foram observados nos difratogramas. Com a técnica PAS, espectros de absorção foram obtidos. Foi possível observar uma grande diferença de absorção da amostra calcinada a 600 e 630C, indicando a formação do titanato de bário a partir da temperatura de 630C, nas amostras sem a dopagem dióxido de cério. Houve um alargamento nas bandas de absorção a partir da temperatura de 600C, quando o dióxido de cério entrou na matriz. Foi também possível determinar as energias de band-gap das amostras utilizando o método de Tauc. Com as técnicas de análise térmica, em especial através da técnica termogravimétrica (TG/DTG), foi comprovado que até 400C não havia formação de titanato de bário. Visto que nesta temperatura de calcinação houve a maior perda de massa durante a rampa de aquecimento. O início da formação do titanato de bário foi observado a partir da temperatura de calcinação de 500C, assim como nas técnicas DRX e PAS. Portanto, com os resultados apresentados, foi demonstrada a identificação da formação do titanato de bário nas misturas reacionais calcinadas, com auxílio das potencialidades das três técnicas utilizadas. / Ferroelectric materials have been used in many areas of technology and science, because they have a large number of applications, such as sensors; transducers; capacitors; optical devices; among others. The search for new ferroelectric ceramics has been great. One of the most studied ferroelectric ceramic material is barium titanate (BT). There are several methods for production and characterization of barium titanate. In this work, ceramic powders of barium titanate were obtained by solid state reaction from reaction mixtures calcined at different temperatures between 400C and 900C. Three reaction mixtures were used: undoped; doped with 1%; and 5% doped with cerium dioxide (CeO2). The identification of the formation of BT, for the ceramic powders produced, was taken from three characterization techniques: X-ray diffraction (XRD); photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS); and thermal analysis techniques. With the technique XRD diffraction patterns showed that complete formation of the barium titanate occurred after the calcination temperature of 700C. For the sample not doped with cerium and calcined at 800C, there was displacement of all diffraction peaks. In samples doped with cerium dioxide was no displacement of all diffraction peaks, comparing to undoped samples. It was also observed that the samples doped with 5% CeO2 and calcined at 700C and 800C, cerium dioxide residues were observed in the diffraction pattern. The absorption spectra were obtained with the technique PAS. It was possible to observe a large difference in absorption spectra in the samples calcined at 600C and 630C, indicating the formation of barium titanate at temperature of 630C in the samples without doping of cerium dioxide. There was an enlargement in the absorption band above temperature of 600C when the cerium dioxide was introduced into the matrix. It was also possible to determine the band-gap energy of the samples using the method of TAUC. With thermal analysis techniques, in particular by thermogravimetric technique (TG/DTG), has been proven that up to 400C there was no formation of barium titanate. Once, in this calcination temperature there was the largest mass loss during the heating ramp. The onset of formation of barium titanate was observed from the calcination temperature of 500C, as it has been found by the XRD and PAS techniques. Therefore, with the results presented, the identification of the formation of barium titanate calcined in reaction mixtures with the aid of the potentialities of the three techniques was demonstrated.

À la surface ou à l’interface d’un matériau ferroélectrique, la polarisation peut être déstabilisée voire même annulée par le champ dépolarisation qui résulte de charges de polarisation non compensées. En l’absence de mécanismes d’écrantage extrinsèques (adsorbats, électrodes) ou intrinsèques (défauts, dopants), l’ordonnancement en domaines est le moyen le plus naturel dont un système a recourt pour rester ferroélectrique et minimiser son énergie électrostatique. Cette thèse se concentre sur l’étude de la stabilité de multiples configurations en domaines, ainsi que de la façon dont elle dépend de facteurs géométriques, chimiques et élastiques, à la surface du BaTiO3(001).Des calculs ab initio, fondés sur la théorie de la fonctionnelle de la densité, ont été menés pour éclaircir l’influence de la terminaison de surface, de la contrainte parallèle à la surface, de l’épaisseur du système et de la taille des domaines sur la polarisation de différentes phases ferroélectriques dans des couches ultraminces. L’effet de lacunes d’oxygène en surface sur la polarisation et sur la structure électronique a aussi été étudié. La microscopie d’électrons lents (LEEM) et la microscopie d’électrons photoémis (PEEM) ont été utilisées pour étudier les propriétés de la polarisation à la surface de monocristaux de BaTiO3 réduit, afin d’examiner l’influence des lacunes d’oxygène sur la polarisation ferroélectrique par une approche expérimentale, renforçant ainsi les résultats de calculs. / At a surface or interface of a ferroelectric material, the polarization can be destabilized and even suppressed by the depolarizing field which arises from uncompensated polarization charge. In the absence of external (adsorbates, electrodes) or internal (defects, dopants) screening mechanisms, domain ordering is the most natural way for a system to remain ferroelectric and minimize its electrostatic energy. This thesis focuses on the study of the stability of various possible domain configurations, and on how it depends and interplays on size, chemical and elastic factors, at the (001) surface of BaTiO3.First-principles calculations, based on density functional theory, have been performed to enlighten the influence of surface terminations, in-plane strain, system thickness and domain size in ultrathin films on the polarization in different ferroelectric phases. The effect of surface oxygen vacancies on the polarization and electronic structure has also been investigated. Low Energy electron microscopy (LEEM) and photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) have been used to study the surface properties of ferroelectric polarization in reduced BaTiO3 single crystals, allowing to address the influence of oxygen vacancies on the ferroelectric polarization from experimental approaches, supporting the calculations results.

No description available.

Le titanate de baryum dopé (BaTiO3, BT) avec des éléments de terres rares est utilisé comme diélectrique dans la fabrication de condensateurs céramiques multicouches (MLCC). L'oxyde de terres rares le plus couramment utilisé comme dopant dans la formulation commerciale de la poudre BT pour la fabrication de MLCC est Y2O3, car il a des propriétés similaires à celles de l'ajout de Ho2O3, Er2O3 ou Dy2O3 et il est moins coûteux. D'autres additifs, tels que Mn, Mg et Ca contribuent à la répartition globale des défauts électroniques pouvant être générés lorsque les ions dopants sont insérés dans le réseau, tandis que SiO2 est utilisé comme additif de frittage. La structure pérovskite du BT peut héberger une large gamme de dopants pouvant remplacer Ba ou Ti dans le réseau. Aussi, des phases secondaires, notamment celles connues sous le nom de pyrochlores Y2Ti2O7, associées à l'Y2O3 en tant que dopant BT, supposées être á l'origine des mécanismes de défaillance à long terme des MLCC, apparaissent. Le but de ce travail est de caractériser le BT dopé avec différentes concentrations d'Y2O3, en validant son éventuelle contribution à la formation de phases secondaires et en évaluant la fiabilité des MLCC préparées avec ce type de matériaux. Le rôle de Y2O3 a été évalué sur deux types de matières premières, le premier est du BaTiO3 pur (<100 ppm en Y) et le second est une formulation commerciale conçue pour les MLCC connus sous le nom de X7R (-55 °C et 125 °C, ±15 %) qui, entre autres éléments, contient déjà 1% en poids de Y2O3. Des poudres et des céramiques avec différentes concentrations d'Y3+, telles qu'Y2O3, de dopage (1% en poids à 20% en poids) ont été préparées puis traitées thermiquement ou frittées. Le traitement thermique de la poudre a été effectué à l'air, tandis que le frittage de la céramique (poudre compactée à 2 MPa) a été effectué à la fois dans l'air et dans une atmosphère réductrice (1310 °C à l'air pendant 3 h, deux étapes: 1310 °C puis 1150 °C 15 h et une atmosphère réductrice N2, H2, H2O à 1310 °C pendant 3 h). En ce qui concerne l'addition d'Y2O3, la transition de phase de tétragonal à un mélange de tétragonal et de cubique a été observée lorsque la concentration en Y2O3 augmentait dans la poudre traitée thermiquement et dans la céramique correspondante. [...] / Doped barium titanate (BaTiO3, BT) with rare-earth elements (REE) is used as dielectric in the manufacture of multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs). The most common REE oxide employed as dopant in the commercial formulation of BT powder for fabrication of MLCCs is Y2O3, because it results in similar properties than adding Ho2O3, Er2O3 or Dy2O3, and it is less expensive. Other additives, such as Mn, Mg, and Ca contribute to the global distribution of the electronic defects that can be generated when the doping ions are inserted into the lattice, while SiO2 is used as a sintering additive. The perovskite structure of the BT can host a wide range of dopants that can substitute either Ba or Ti in the lattice. There are reports of secondary phases, particularly those known as pyrochlores Y2Ti2O7, related to Y2O3 as BT dopant, that are supposed to be the cause of long term failure mechanisms of MLCC's under nominal operation. The purpose of this work is to characterize BT doped with different concentrations of Y2O3, validating its possible contribution to the formation of secondary phases, and evaluating reliability of MLCCs prepared with this kind of materials. The role of Y2O3 was evaluated on two kinds of raw materials, the first one is pure BaTiO3 (< 100 ppm Y) and the second kind is a commercial formulation designed for MLCCs known as X7R (-55 °C and 125 °C, 15% tolerance) which, among other elements, already contains 1 wt% of Y2O3. Powders and ceramics with different Y3+, as Y2O3, doping concentration (1 wt% up to 20 wt%) were prepared and subsequently thermally treated or sintered, respectively. Heat treatment of powder was conducted on air, while sintering of ceramics (powder compacted at 2 MPa) was carried out both, in air and reducing atmosphere (1310 °C in air for 3 h, two steps: 1310 °C then 1150 °C 15 h, and a reducing atmosphere N2, H2, H2O at 1310 °C for 3 h). Regarding Y2O3 addition, the phase transition from tetragonal to a mixture of tetragonal and cubic was observed as Y2O3 concentration increases in the thermally treated powder and in the corresponding ceramics. [...]

A flexible nanofibrous PVDF-BaTiO3 composite material is prepared for impact sensing and biomechanical energy harvesting applications. Dielectric polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and barium titanate (BaTiO3)-PVDF nanofibrous composites were made using the electrospinning process based on a design of experiments approach. The ultrasonication process was optimized using a 2k factorial DoE approach to disperse BaTiO3 particles in PVDF solution in DMF. Scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize the microstructure of the fabricated mesh. The FT-IR and Raman analysis were carried out to investigate the crystal structure of the prepared mesh. Surface morphology contribution to the adhesive property of the composite was explained through contact angle measurements. The capacitance of the prepared PVDF- BaTiO3 nanofibrous mesh was a more than 40% increase over the pure PVDF nanofibers. A comparative study of dielectric relaxation, thermodynamics properties and impact analysis of electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and 3% BaTiO3-PVDF nanofibrous composite are presented. The frequency dependent dielectric properties revealed micro structural features of the composite material. The dielectric relaxation behavior is further supported by complex impedance analysis and Nyquist plots. The temperature dependence of electric modulus shows Arrhenius type behavior. The observed non-Debye dielectric relaxation in electric loss modulus follows a thermally activated process which can be attributed to a small polaron hopping effect. The particle induced crystallization is supported with thermodynamic properties from differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) measurements. The observed increase in piezoelectric response by impact analysis was attributed to the interfacial interaction between PVDF and BaTiO3. The interfacial polarization between PVDF and BaTiO3 was studied using density functional theory calculations and atomic charge density analysis. The results obtained indicates that electrospinning offers a potential way to produce nanofibers with desired crystalline nature which was not observed in molded samples. In addition, BaTiO3 can be used to increase the capacitance, desired surface characteristics of the PVDF nanofibers which can find potential application as flexible piezoelectric sensor mimicking biological skin for use in impact sensing and energy harvesting applications.

No description available.

<p dir="ltr">Piezoelectric polymers and ceramics have applications throughout many fields, including their use as pressure sensors and transducers. Of the polymers, poly(vinylidene fluoride – trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)), has been the go-to for its high piezoelectric performance. With the addition of aluminum nanopowders (nAl), P(VDF-TrFE) acts as a binder and oxidizer, creating an energetic composite, a so-called piezoenergetic. However, this typically results in lower d₃₃ coefficients and can have lower reactivity since ideal mixtures may short when poled. Here, we develop and demonstrate single-layer and multilayer polymer composite films with high piezoelectric and energetic content. We prepared single-layer thin film piezoelectric energetic composites of nAl and P(VDF-TrFE) and a combination of thermal annealing and poling at elevated temperatures enabled full poling of 9 wt.% nAl/P(VDF-TrFE) films with d₃₃ of 22.7 pC/N that is comparable to P(VDF-TrFE) films. We also investigated the addition of barium titanate (BaTiO₃) particles as a piezoelectric ceramic to enhance the d₃₃ coefficient. In the neat polymer, BaTiO₃ had differing effects depending on the particle size, with 200 nm particles improving the d₃₃ coefficient more than the 1 μm particles. However, neither size of BaTiO₃ particle had a substantial effect on the piezoelectricity in the 9 wt.% nAl/P(VDF-TrFE) films. We also prepared hot-pressed, three-layer “sandwich” P(VDF-TrFE) – 30 wt.% nAl/P(VDF-TrFE) – P(VDF-TrFE) composites, which had marginally lower d₃₃ coefficients than the single-layer 9 wt.% nAl/P(VDF-TrFE) films. However, the 30 wt.% nAl/P(VDF-TrFE) sandwich films were far more energetic than the 9 wt.% nAl/P(VDF-TrFE) films, as confirmed by simultaneous differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis (DSC/TGA) and deflagration studies. The single films will often fail to fully sustain a deflagration, while the sandwich films burn completely. In addition, we can ignite the sandwich samples with an electrical discharge making these films also useful in ignition applications. To demonstrate the use of piezoenergetic films, 9 wt.% nAl/P(VDF-TrFE) single layer and 30 wt.% nAl/P(VDF-TrFE) sandwich films were calibrated as pressure gauges using a mini drop weight setup, and then demonstrated as a pressure gage. The improvements in the piezoelectric coefficient of the 9 wt.% nAl/P(VDF-TrFE) single layer films, as well as the energetic performance in the form of the 30 wt.% nAl/P(VDF-TrFE) sandwich films strongly amplify the existing potential of these multifunctional composites in energetic and pressure sensing applications.</p>

This dissertation focuses on projects where optical techniques were employed to characterize novel materials, developing concepts toward next generation of devices. The materials that I studied included InAsP, InMnSb and InMnAs, and BT-BCN. I have employed several advanced time resolved and magneto-optical techniques to explore unexplored properties of these structures. The first class of the materials were the ternary alloys InAsP. The electron g-factor of InAsP can be tuned, even allowing for g=0, making InAsP an ideal candidate for quantum communication devices. Furthermore, InAsP shows promises for opto-electronics and spintronics, where the development of devices requires extensive knowledge of carrier and spin dynamics. Thus, I have performed time and polarization resolved pump-probe spectroscopy on InAsP with various compositions. The carrier and spin relaxation time in these structures were observed and demonstrated tunability to the excitation wavelengths, composition and temperature. The sensitivity to these parameters provide several avenues to control carrier and spin dynamics in InAsP alloys. The second project focused on the ferromagnetic narrow gap semiconductors InMnAs and InMnSb. The incorporation of Mn can lead to ferromagnetic behavior of InMnAs and InMnSb, and enhance the g-factors, making them ideal candidates for spintronics devices. When grown using Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE), the Curie temperature (textit{$T_c$}) of these structures is textless 100 K, however structures grown using Metalorganic Vapor phase Epitaxy (MOVPE) have textit{$T_c$} textgreater 300 K. Magnetic circular dichroism was performed on MOVPE grown InMnAs and InMnSb. Comparison of the experimental results with the theoretical calculations provides a direct method to map the band structure, including the temperature dependence of the spin-orbit split-off band to conduction band transition and g-factors, as well as the estimated sp-d electron/hole coupling parameters. My final project was on the lead-free ferroelectric BT-BCN. Ferroelectric materials are being investigated for high speed, density, nonvolatile and energy efficient memory devices; however, commercial ferroelectric memories typically contain lead, and use a destructive reading method. Reflectometry measurements were used in order to determine the refractive index of BT-BCN with varying thicknesses, which can provide a means to nondestructively read ferroelectric memory through optical methods. / Ph. D. / This dissertation focuses on the characterization of materials that are important for the next generation computer architecture through optical techniques. These materials include the ternary alloy InAsP, the ferromagnetic semiconductors InMnAs and InMnSb, and the lead-free ferroelectric BT-BCN. InAsP is a ternary alloy composed of the technologically important InAs and InP, and by changing the alloy composition, the band gap and g-factor can be tuned. This allows for InAsP to have band gaps within the communication band, which is important for fiber optic communications as well as infrared photodetectors. As the functionality of these devices depends on the carrier dynamics, I have performed pump-probe spectroscopy in order to probe the carrier and spin relaxation times of this material system. These relaxation times were found to vary with excitation wavelengths, allowing flexibility in the application of this material system for devices. InAs and InSb are attractive materials for device applications because they offer large electron g-factor, small effective masses, and high mobilities. With the incorporation of Mn, these materials can become ferromagnetic, allowing for their use in ferromagnetic memories as well as other possible devices. The theory of ferromagnetism in semiconductors relies on the interaction between the itinerant holes and the Mn ions, however, in narrow gap semiconductors there is a large band mixing between the conduction and valence band states, and thus the interaction between the conduction band electrons and the Mn is important. In this study, my measurements revealed several interband transitions, which allowed for the calculation of the coupling constants between the electrons, holes and the Mn. My final study involved the lead-free ferroelectric BT-BCN. Ferroelectric materials are ideal for fast, low power and nonvolatile memories; however, typical implementation utilizes materials that contain lead, and a destructive reading mechanism, requiring a rewrite step. Optical, nondestructive reading methods are being explored based off of the rotation of the polarization of light as it passes through the sample. As this requires knowledge of the refractive index, I performed reflectometry measurements in order to determine the refractive indices of several BT-BCN films.

This thesis reports on the elemental growth of oxide thin films including TiO_x, BaO_x and Ba_xTi_yO_z by Ti/Ba deposition and oxidation. The films were grown on two different substrates, Au(111) and SrTiO₃(001), and studied using a variety of surface characterisation techniques. On the reconstructed Au(111) surface, three different TiO_x structures were obtained with increasing Ti amounts deposited: a (2 × 2) Ti₂O₃ honeycomb structure, a pinwheel structure that is the result of a Moiré pattern, and a triangular island TiO_1.30 structure. The structures arise from raised Ti coverages and have increased Ti densities. Although Ba deposited on the reconstructed Au(111) has a weak interaction with the substrate, the BaO_x thin films can grow epitaxially and lift the Au(111) reconstruction. Two well-ordered phases, a (6 × 6) and a (2√3 × 2√3) BaO_x structure, were obtained which may have octopolar-based surface structures. For Ba & Ti deposition on Au(111), a locally ordered (5 × 5) BaxTiyOz structure was observed in the sub-monolayer regime. What is more interesting is the possible formation of a BaO-TiO surface alloy with short-range ordering achieved by Ba deposition on the (2 × 2) Ti₂O₃-templated Au(111) surface. This is the first time that surface-alloying has been observed for oxides. When Ti is deposited onto the SrTiO₃(001) surface, it is incorporated into the substrate by forming a variety of Ti-rich SrTiO₃ surface reconstructions, such as c(4 × 2), (6 × 2), (9 × 2) and (√5 ×√5)-R26.6°. Ti deposition provides a completely different route to obtaining these reconstructions at much lower anneal temperatures than the previously reported preparation procedures involving sputtering and annealing the SrTiO₃ sample. Anatase islands with (1 × 3) and (1 × 5) periodicities were also formed by increasing the Ti deposition amount and post-annealing. Reconstructed SrTiO₃ substrate surface has a lattice that differs from the bulk crystal and affects the epitaxial growth of BaO, however, a locally ordered BaO_x structure was observed on the sputtered substrate with a growth temperature of 300 °C. Depositing Ba & Ti on SrTiO₃(001) results in the formation of BaO_x clusters and the Ti incorporation into the substrate, forming the familiar Ti-rich SrTiO₃ surface reconstructions.

Fabrication of artificially structured superlattices, when controlled on a nanoscale level, can exhibit enhanced dielectric properties over a wide temperature range. Possible fabrication of new functional devices based on the parametric values of dielectric constants of these heterostructures was the major motivation behind the work. Chapter 1 gives a brief overview of ferroelectrics; their defining features and their commercial importance to electronic industry. An introduction to ferroelectric superlattices, their technological application and fundamental physics that influence the behavior of superlattices are provided. Chapter 2 deals with the various experimental studies carried out in this research work. It gives the details of the experimental set up and the basic operation principles of various structural and physical characterizations of the materials prepared. A brief explanation of material fabrication, structural, micro structural and physical property measurements is discussed. Chapter 3 involves fabrication of two-component ferroelectric superlattices consisting of Barium Titanate (BTO), and Strontium Titanate (STO) with nanoscale control of superlattice periodicities by high-pressure multi target pulsed laser deposition on Pt (111)/Ti/SiO2/Si (100) substrate. Superlattices with varying periodicities were fabricated and their compositional variation across the thin film and the interface width were studied using Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS). Fabrications of superlattice structure were supported by observation of satellite peaks in XRD corresponding to the coherent heterostructures. The microstructural analysis was carried out using cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and contact mode-AFM was used to image surface morphology and root-mean-square (rms) roughness of the thin film heterostructure. Chapter 4 deals with ferroelectric studies of BTO/STO superlattices. The size dependent polarization behaviors of the superlattices are shown. The experimental realization of the dimensional range in which, the long-range coupling interaction dominates the overall polarization behavior of the system was studied. The dependence of average spontaneous polarization on the individual layer thickness, temperature and the dimensional range of interaction are discussed. The enhanced non-linear behaviors of the films were measured in terms of tunability. The dielectric phase transition behavior of superlattice structures of different periodicities was studied. Chapter 5 focuses on fabrication of three-component ferroelectric superlattices consisting of Barium Titanate (BTO), Calcium Titanate (CTO) and Strontium Titanate (STO). The fabrications of superlattice structures were confirmed by the presence of satellite reflections in XRD analysis and a periodic concentration of Sr, Ba and Ca throughout the film in Depth profile of SIMS analysis. The microstructural analysis was carried out using cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and contact mode-AFM was used to image surface morphology and root-mean-square (rms) roughness of the thin film heterostructure. The dielectric characteristic and polarization properties of the system are discussed. Large variations of lattice distortion in the consisting layers were achieved by varying the stacking sequence and superlattice periodicity. The influence of interfacial strain on enhancement of ferroelectric polarization was studied. The size dependence and the role of interfaces in the observed enhancements of the dielectric behaviors were highlighted. The tunability of about 55% was achieved in these systems and was higher than any of the single polycrystalline thin film of the constituent materials reported till date. The enhanced dielectric properties were thus discussed in terms of the interfacial strain driven polar region due to high lattice mismatch and electrostatic coupling due to polarization mismatch between individual layers. Chapter 6 deals with the dielectric response, impedance spectroscopy and the DC leakage characteristics of the superlattice structures. All the heterostructures fabricated, exhibited low frequency dispersion, similar to that of the Jonscher’s universal type of relaxation behavior. The anomalous dispersion was observed in the imaginary dielectric constant at high frequencies. A Debye type relaxation behavior was observed in the impedance analysis at low temperatures, whereas, a departure from ideal ‘Debye’ type was noticed as the temperature was increased. The leakage currents of all the heterostructures were found to be a few orders less than the homogeneous single layer thin films. A space charge limited conduction was observed in al the superlattice structures fabricated. Chapter 7 summarizes the present study and discusses about the future work that could give more insight into the understanding of the ferroelectric perovskite heterostructures.