Oxide materials play a key role in modern electronics due to their remarkable phase transitions, such as the metal-insulator transition and ferroelectric transitions. These transitions, in which material properties change drastically under the influence of temperature or other external triggers, offer promising potential for smart applications. By growing thin films of metal oxides on various substrates — with or without templates — these materials can be made suitable for integration into electronic circuits. In particular, epitaxial strain, which arises from a careful selection of substrate and template, can be precisely tuned and has a direct impact on these phase transitions. In- situ characterization techniques enable direct observation of structural changes in the crystal lattice of oxides, allowing us to study how microstructure influences the phase transitions — for example, under varying temperature or applied electrical and mechanical stress. This PhD research aims to gain a deep understanding of these underlying mechanisms, which are essential for the development of efficient, sustainable, and multifunctional electronic components.

This PhD is within the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programme for doctoral network HINA (Hybrid INtegration of Alkaline niobate -tantalate films for advanced photonic and piezoelectric devices).