Ferroelectric perovskites for electromechanical actuation

There has been a recent surge of activity in ferroelectric materials motivated by the desire for materials capable of large strains for actuator applications. New materials have been developed and systematic attempts to exploit underlying domains have been pursued. New experimental methods have probed the material at the atomistic and domain scales. Significant advances have been made in the theoretical understanding of the origins of ferroelectricity, nature of domain patterns and their overall behavior. Modern methods of synthesis with controlled texture and composition have opened the possibility of exploiting the inherent microscopic features of these materials. This paper provides some snapshots of the recent advances in theory and experiment, and points to open issues and opportunities for the future. (C) 2003 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.