Lead-free version of ferroelectric component essential for electronics utilizes sodium niobate thin film subject to mechanical strain

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1106159

"growing the sodium niobate on substrate induces 3 different phases (atom arrangements) simultaneously at room temperature (as film's atoms contract/ expand to match the substrate's atomic structure) without traditional methods like changing temperature/ chemical composition... optimizes ferroelectric properties by creating more boundaries between phases... even slight changes in length led to substantial phase changes... future: investigate the effect of strain at extreme temperatures ranging from -270° to 1,000°C"