Tag

Flexoelectricity

All articles tagged with #flexoelectricity

Salty Ice's Electrical Power: Unlocking Nature's Lightning Potential
science5 months ago

Salty Ice's Electrical Power: Unlocking Nature's Lightning Potential

Scientists have discovered that ordinary ice can generate electricity when bent, through a process called flexoelectricity, and also exhibits surface ferroelectricity at very low temperatures. This dual electrical behavior may help explain natural phenomena like lightning formation and could lead to new technological applications using ice as an active material. The findings, published in Nature Physics, reveal surprising electromechanical properties of ice that extend our understanding of its behavior in nature and potential uses in electronics.

"Discovery of Spontaneous Toroidal Polar Topology in Helielectric Nematic State"
science1 year ago

"Discovery of Spontaneous Toroidal Polar Topology in Helielectric Nematic State"

Researchers have discovered a spontaneous toroidal polar topology in the helielectric nematic state, a ferroelectric liquid-matter phase with polarized helices. This topology is generated through a flexoelectric effect, leading to the formation of previously unknown polar topological structures. The findings could pave the way for new polar topologies and the development of switchable ferroelectric-liquid-matter optoelectronic devices.