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Cold sintering of lead-free ferroelectric perovskites

Author(s): Samir Salmanov (Author), Mojca Otoničar (Supervisor), Danjela Kuščer Hrovatin (Co-Supervisor)

Year: 2025

Type: Doctoral dissertation

Fabrication of electroceramics usually requires high sintering temperatures of 800 to 1400 °C, which can unintentionally lead to problems such as volatilization of species, formation of secondary phases and excessive grain growth. These problems can cause inhomogeneous microstructures, non-stoichiometric chemical compositions and limited material functionality. Therefore, there is a need …

Microstructure design and multifunctionality of barium zirconate titanate-barium calcium titanate thin films prepared by chemical solution deposition

Author(s): Sabi William Konsago (Author), Barbara Malič (Supervisor), Hana Uršič Nemevšek (Co-Supervisor)

Year: 2025

Type: Doctoral dissertation

Barium zirconate titanate-barium calcium titanate 0.5Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3-0.5(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 (BZT-BCT) ceramic exhibits a high piezoelectric response in the vicinity of room temperature. It is an environment-friendly alternative to Pb(Zr1-xTix)O3 (PZT), the most used ceramic material in piezoelectric applications. Thin films meet the requirements related to the miniaturization of electronic components such as in …

Microstructure development in lithium lanthanum titanate solid electrolyte

Author(s): Petruša Borštnar (Author), Nina Daneu (Supervisor)

Year: 2025

Type: Doctoral dissertation

All-solid-state batteries are one of the key technologies for future energy storage and the transition to a climate-neutral society. They offer improved safety, stability, and a broader operating temperature range compared to conventional batteries with liquid electrolyte. Perovskite Li0.33La0.56 0.11TiO3 (LLTO) is recognized as one of the most promising solid …

Spatial and energy distributions of sputtered atoms in thin film deposition techniques

Author(s): Nastja Mahne (Author), Miha Čekada (Supervisor), Matjaž Panjan (Co-Supervisor)

Year: 2024

Type: Doctoral dissertation

The sputtering yield, the spatial distribution of the sputtered atoms, the energy distribution and the average energy of the sputtered atoms are important for numerous deposition techniques, as they determine the microstructure and the physical properties of the thin films. Using SRIM (Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter) simulations, …

Influence of temperature on the hydration of belite-calcium sulfoaluminate cements

Author(s): Maruša Mrak (Author), Sabina Dolenec (Supervisor), Nina Daneu (Co-Supervisor)

Year: 2023

Type: Doctoral dissertation

In this doctoral thesis influence of different temperatures (5 °C - 60 °C) on the hydration of belite-ye’elimite-ferrite cement was studied. Fluctuations in temperature can cause changes in the phase assemblage, kinetics of hydration and mechanical properties. Besides temperature, other factors such as the cement clinker phase composition, calcium sulfate …

Microstructural analysis and evaluation OF W and W/W2C composites for fusion application

Author(s): Andreja Šestan (Author), Miran Čeh (Supervisor), Saša Novak Krmpotič (Co-Supervisor)

Year: 2023

Type: Doctoral dissertation

Fusion technology has a great potential to safely provide an inexhaustible quantity of electricity without producing greenhouse gases and minimal hazardous waste compared to conventional energy sources, such as nuclear power plants. For materials intended for fusion plasma-facing applications, the essential properties are structural stability at elevated temperature, adequate thermal …

Alkali-activated steel slag-based materials

Author(s): Mark Češnovar (Author), Vilma Ducman (Supervisor), Srečo Davor Škapin (Co-Supervisor)

Year: 2022

Type: Doctoral dissertation

Alkali activation is a chemical process in which aluminosilicate-rich materials that dissolve in basic media at room temperature form binding phases by polycondensation. Alkali-activated materials (AAM), also called geopolymers, are inorganic aluminosilicate-based materials produced mainly from fly ashes and metallurgical slags or clays with high Al and Si content and …

Lead magnesium niobate titanate thick films prepared by aerosol deposition method

Author(s): Matej Šadl (Author), Hana Uršič Nemevšek (Supervisor)

Year: 2022

Type: Doctoral dissertation

The miniaturization of electronic devices requires the fabrication of functional components in the form of μm-sized thick films. Some of the most promising functional materials are relaxor-ferroelectric (1-x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–xPbTiO3 (PMN–100xPT), as they exhibit versatile dielectric, piezoelectric and relaxor-ferroelectric properties. However, the integration of functional ceramic thick films with non-conventional substrates such …

Mechanisms and Effect of Deep Cryogenic Treatment on Steel Properties

Author(s): Patricia Jovičević Klug (Author), Bojan Podgornik (Supervisor)

Year: 2022

Type: Doctoral dissertation

Deep cryogenic treatment (DCT) is a type of cryogenic treatment, during which a material is subjected to temperatures below −160 °C. When a metallic material is modified with DCT, changes occur down to the nanoscopic level. DCT induces microstructural changes such as grain size refinement, formation of new grains, movement …

Processing of heavy-rare-earth-lean Nd-Fe-B permanent magnets for high-temptrature applications

Author(s): Matic Korent (Author), Kristina Žagar Soderžnik (Supervisor), Spomenka Kobe (Co-Supervisor)

Year: 2021

Type: Doctoral dissertation

Permanent magnets are materials that generate a magnetic field in free space without electricity or other external energy sources. They are essential components of modern technologies, used in many electrical devices. Nowadays, they are included in technology for renewable sources of energy, such as electrical vehicles, generators and wind turbines. …