Over the past decade, ferroelectric research has witnessed significant advancements, including theoretical calculations across various scales, material design and fabrication, and emerging applications.
This talk will review the progress made in bulk ferroelectrics over the last ten years, with a focus on material systems (lead-free, relaxor ferroelectric crystals, and high entropy materials), material fabrication and treatment (low-temperature sintering, AC poling, and additive printing), and emergent applications (conformable and wearable medical sensors, implantable devices, portable devices, and interdisciplinary applications). The talk will conclude with a look at the future direction of ferroelectric research in sustainable development, human health and energy-related fields.

Shujun Zhang is a Chair Professor at City University of Hong Kong, prior to which, he was a distinguished Professor at University of Wollongong, Australia, Senior Scientist and Professor at the Pennsylvania State University, USA. Presently, his focus lies in exploring the intricate relationship between design & fabrication, microstructure, properties, and device performance of electronic materials, particularly with applications in piezoelectric transducers and energy storage/harvesting. He has received several accolades from various societies, including an Academician of World Academy of Ceramics, an IEEE Fellow of the Ultrasonics, Ferroelectric and Frequency Control Society (UFFC-S); a Fellow of the American Ceramic Society; and a Future Fellow of Australian Research Council. Additionally, he is a recipient of IEEE UFFC-S Ferroelectrics Recognition Award; a winner of the New South Wales Premiers Prizes for Science & Engineering; the Ross Coffin Purdy Award at the American Ceramic Society; and Vice-Chancellor’s Research Excellence Award for Researcher of the Year at UOW. He is the Editor-in-Chief for Microstructures, section Editor-in-Chief for Crystals, as well as an Associate Editor for the IEEE Transactions on UFFC, Journal of the American Ceramic Society, and Science Bulletin. He has also served as an elected IEEE UFFC AdCom member (2016-2018) and Vice President for Ferroelectrics (IEEE UFFC, 2021-2023).