Latest Research in Development, Characterization and Modelling of Shape Memory Alloys Applicable in "Smart" Micro-/Nanotechnology Devices

A special issue of Metals (ISSN 2075-4701). This special issue belongs to the section "Biobased and Biodegradable Metals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2024 | Viewed by 9438

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic
Interests: polymer; NiTi composite; biosensor applications
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) exhibit unique functional properties such as a shape memory effect and superelasticity. These properties are the result of a reversible diffusionless martensitic transformation driven by certain environmental conditions such as temperature, stress or magnetic field. The possibility of using SMAs in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) was introduced in 1990, and MEMS and composite structures utilizing unique properties of SMAs have been extensively studied, especially in the last 20 years. Significant progress has been achieved in design, modeling, manufacturing, and characterization of SMAs at the microscale, and there is a current trend in miniaturization of MEMS towards the nanoscale (i.e., nanoelectromechanical systems—NEMS). The modeling, preparation, and characterization of SMAs at nanoscale are particularly challenging. Moreover, properties of SMAs at nanoscale are not yet fully understood, and they are currently under extensive investigation. This Special Issue of Metals is focused on the latest developments in SMAs for application in smart MEMS/NEMS as well as in the design, preparation, and characterization of micro-/nanostructures with SMA elements or films. Topics include but are not limited to:

  • Preparation and characterization of SMAs at the micro-/nanoscale;
  • SMA thin films;
  • SMAs for application in MEMS/NEMS;
  • Simulations and modeling of SMAs at the micro-/nanoscale;
  • Ab initio simulations of SMAs;
  • Biomedical application of SMAs;
  • Multilayered structures with SMA components.

Dr. Ivo Stachiv
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • Shape memory alloys
  • Smart materials
  • Properties of micro-/nanoshape memory alloys
  • Nanoscale characterization of shape memory alloys
  • Shape memory alloys for micro-/nanotechnology applications
  • Multilayered structures with shape memory alloys
  • Modeling of shape memory alloys

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

28 pages, 4386 KiB  
Review
Shape Memory Alloys and Polymers for MEMS/NEMS Applications: Review on Recent Findings and Challenges in Design, Preparation, and Characterization
by Ivo Stachiv, Eduardo Alarcon and Miroslav Lamac
Metals 2021, 11(3), 415; https://doi.org/10.3390/met11030415 - 03 Mar 2021
Cited by 47 | Viewed by 8784
Abstract
Rapid progress in material science and nanotechnology has led to the development of the shape memory alloys (SMA) and the shape memory polymers (SMP) based functional multilayered structures that, due to their capability to achieve the properties not feasible by most natural materials, [...] Read more.
Rapid progress in material science and nanotechnology has led to the development of the shape memory alloys (SMA) and the shape memory polymers (SMP) based functional multilayered structures that, due to their capability to achieve the properties not feasible by most natural materials, have attracted a significant attention from the scientific community. These shape memory materials can sustain large deformations, which can be recovered once the appropriate value of an external stimulus is applied. Moreover, the SMAs and SMPs can be reprogrammed to meet several desired functional properties. As a result, SMAs and SMPs multilayered structures benefit from the unprecedented physical and material properties such as the shape memory effect, superelasticity, large displacement actuation, changeable mechanical properties, and the high energy density. They hold promises in the design of advanced functional micro- and nano-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS). In this review, we discuss the recent understanding and progress in the fields of the SMAs and SMPs. Particular attention will be given to the existing challenges, critical issues, limitations, and achievements in the preparation and characterization of the SMPs and NiTi-based SMAs thin films, and their heterostructures for MEMS/NEMS applications including both experimental and computational approaches. Examples of the recent MEMS/NEMS devices utilizing the unique properties of SMAs and SMPs such as micropumps, microsensors or tunable metamaterial resonators are highlighted. In addition, we also introduce the prospective future research directions in the fields of SMAs and SMPs for the nanotechnology applications. Full article
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

 

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