By taking a “bottom-up” approach, researchers at the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have observed for the first time
that “size does matter,” in regards “pyroelectricity”—the current/voltage
developed in response to temperature fluctuations that enables technologies
such as infrared sensors, night-vision, and energy conversion units, to name a
few.
“Controlling and manipulating heat for applications such as
waste heat energy harvesting, integrated cooling technologies, electron
emission, and related functions is an exciting field of study today,” explained
Lane Martin, an assistant professor of materials science and engineering
(MatSE) at Illinois. “Traditionally, these systems have relied on bulk
materials, but future nanoscale devices will increasingly require ferroelectric
thin films.