Electrical Conduction in Nanostructured Ceramics

As is the case in many fields, for example, microelectronics, catalysis, and medidne, much interest has developed in understanding the role of nanodimensions in influencing and ideally optimizing properties. In this chapter, attention is focused on the impact of nanoscale dimensions on the properties of electrically conductive electroceramics and the implications that this may have on applications. This is particularly relevant since electroceramics, by their nature, are dominated by boundaries (grain boundaries, electrode interfaces, surfaces, etc.), with the notable exception of epitaxial thin films, which are optimized for dielectric and ferroelectric applications but are beyond the scope of this chapter [5]. Some boundaries are detrimental to 

Ceramics Science and Technology Volume 2 Properties. Edited by Ralf Riedel and I-Wei Chen Copyright 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH Co. KGaA, Weinheim ISBN 978-3-527-31156-9 

---