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Perovskite nickelates as electric-field sensors in salt water

Authors :
Chongzhao Wu
Derek K. Schwanz
Zhen Zhang
Jiaxin Zhu
Riccardo Comin
Nanfang Yu
Feizhou He
Michele Kotiuga
Yifei Sun
Mathew J. Cherukara
Koushik Ramadoss
Ronny Sutarto
Stephen S. Nonnenmann
Subramanian K. R. S. Sankaranarayanan
Joseph A. Dura
John W. Freeland
Badri Narayanan
Shriram Ramanathan
Karin M. Rabe
Hua Zhou
Jiarui Li
Source :
Nature. 553(7686)
Publication Year :
2017

Abstract

Designing materials to function in harsh environments, such as conductive aqueous media, is a problem of broad interest to a range of technologies, including energy, ocean monitoring and biological applications. The main challenge is to retain the stability and morphology of the material as it interacts dynamically with the surrounding environment. Materials that respond to mild stimuli through collective phase transitions and amplify signals could open up new avenues for sensing. Here we present the discovery of an electric-field-driven, water-mediated reversible phase change in a perovskite-structured nickelate, SmNiO3. This prototypical strongly correlated quantum material is stable in salt water, does not corrode, and allows exchange of protons with the surrounding water at ambient temperature, with the concurrent modification in electrical resistance and optical properties being capable of multi-modal readout. Besides operating both as thermistors and pH sensors, devices made of this material can detect sub-volt electric potentials in salt water. We postulate that such devices could be used in oceanic environments for monitoring electrical signals from various maritime vessels and sea creatures.

Details

ISSN :
14764687
Volume :
553
Issue :
7686
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Nature
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....1ca98b518fbc4945bcddb58e928a7176