Synthesis, processing and characterization of nanoscale multi functional oxide films X and 8th E-MRS & MRS-J bilateral symposium

The control of oxides thin films offers the possibility to integrate multiple functionalities in heterostructures. Progress in synthesis and characterization of nanoscale multifunctional oxide films is of first importance for the development of high-performance, environmentally friendly, electronic and energy devices.

Scope:

Silicon technology is approaching the insurmountable size barrier set by the ultimate atomistic nature of matter. While Moore's law is starting to fail, attention is turning towards materials able to replace silicon-based CMOS semiconductor technology and guarantee technological progress in the next decades. Amongst all possible candidates, the multifunctional properties offered by oxides heterostructures and their capability to meet sustainability standards arouse a growing interest. The control of thin films growth, coupled with accurate characterization tools for structure, composition and properties, modeling, and theoretical understanding, is a prerequisite for further development of new high-performance oxide-based materials devices. The effects of strain, interfaces, defects, composition, which are key parameters allowing the tuning of properties must be fully understood with a multiscale approach. Interface phenomena between oxides but also between oxides and other materials, are also relevant as new properties can emerge. Moreover, many applications require the use of low cost and/or low temperature deposition methods while others require the integration of the oxides on suitable platforms, such as semiconducting wafers or flexible substrates.

In this 10^th edition of the “Synthesis, Processing and Characterization of Nanoscale Multi Functional Oxide Films» symposium, all of the tunable properties of oxides will be considered, among which we mention ferroelectricity, ferromagnetism, electronic properties, thermoelectricity, superconductivity, field effect tunability, carrier mobility, photoconductivity, low dimensionality, optical transparency, catalytic and photovoltaic behavior. This symposium follows a series of seven very successful and well attended E-MRS symposia organized from 2006 to 2022. The symposium intends to continue the established tradition of an interdisciplinary forum that will bring together scientists and engineers involved in various aspects of the synthesis, processing characterization, device integration and theoretical modeling of multi-functional oxide-based thin films, multilayers and nanostructures to discuss the latest developments and future trends and challenges.

Hot topics to be covered by the symposium:

• New deposition methods: chemical methods involving biodegradable precursors, low temperature process (ALD, 2D nanosheets by Langmuir process…) ; low cost methods
• Atomic control of films and heterostructures
• New deposition methods suitable to control the microstructure of thin films on alternative substrates
• Development of alternative substrates (flexible, low costs...)
• Lead free piezoelectric, toxic free composition functional materials
• Substitution or reduction of critical raw elements in oxides
• Oxide and oxynitride thin films for renewable energy: photovoltaics, photocatalysis, thermoelectrics, piezo-generators…
• Strain and curvature control in oxide membranes and nanowires
• Low-dimensional oxide systems
• Solid state ionics for energy and sensing
• New trends and applications in transparent conducting oxides
• Magnetoelectric, spintronic and spin-orbitronic oxide devices
• Real time and operando characterizations of film growth and functional properties
• Advanced characterization by microscopies or spectroscopic techniques of oxide thin films
• Growth and properties of complex heterostructures, including superlattices
• Epitaxial stabilization of unstable oxide phases
• Defects in oxide and oxynitride thin films

Invited speakers (confirmed):

• Ariando Ariando (National University of Singapore, Singapore)
• Hidekazu Tanaka (Osaka University, Japan)
• Jian Zhen Ou (RMIT University, Australia)
• Kourosh Kalantar-Zadeh (The University of Sydney, Australia)
• Minoru Osada (Nagoya University, Japan)