L. Eric Cross
Evan Pugh Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering
187 MRL Bldg.
Penn State University
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: (814) 865-1181
FAX: (814) 863-7846
E-mail: Validate to view contact info
Education:
- Ph.D. (Physics) Leeds University, 1952
- B.Sc. (Hons, Physics) Leeds University, 1948
Research Interests:
- Ferroic materials
- Ferroelectrics, ferroelastics, and ferromagnetics
- Piezoelectricity, electrostriction and electromechanical sensors and actuators, smart materials and systems
- Flexoelectric charge separation
- New lead free piezoelectric composite
Dr. Cross is an internationally recognized authority in the field of ferroelectricity and dielectric materials. He came to the Pennsylvania State University in 1961 and became a founder of the Materials Research Laboratory. His interests lie in fundamental studies of ferroelectric oxide systems to understand the complex interplay between dielectric and elastic properties through the very strong electrostrictive coupling; modification of properties of oxygen octahedral structure ferroelectrics of complex compositions through cation ordering and aliovalent cation substitution, leading to relaxor ferroelectric behavior; practical application of the additional softening of properties in relaxors to achieve solid solution with exciting morphotropic phase boundaries and fantastic piezoelectric sensor/actuator capability; extended studies of flexoelectric behavior identifying soft mode compositions with orders of magnitude improved properties, leading to the possibility to exploit texture symmetry to achieve new lead-free, high activity piezoelectric composites; and exploration of new techniques to fabricate fine scale texture symmetries that can be assembled to provide bulk composite materials in which direct and converse piezoelectric effects can be independently controlled.
Technologies Impacted by Research:
- Dielectric, piezoelectric, ferroelectric, and multi-ferroic materials and systems
- Applications in capacitors, transducers, actuators and sensors, and smart structure
- Exploration of new flexoelectric charge separation in elastic field gradient with possible application to texture symmetry controlled piezoelectricity
Professional Experience:
| 1999-present | Evan Pugh Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University |
| 1985-1999 | Evan Pugh Professor of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University |
| 1985-1989 | Director, Materials Research Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University |
| 1968-1985 | Professor of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University |
| 1966-1968 | Professor of Solid State Science, The Pennsylvania State University |
| 1964-1966 | Associate Professor, The Pennsylvania State University |
| 1961-1964 | Senior Research Associate, The Pennsylvania State University |
| 1954-1961 | Research Associate, Senior Research Associate, Electrical Research Association, Leatherhead, Surrey |
| 1951-1954 | I.C.I. Research Fellow , Leeds University |
| 1948-1951 | Temp. Assistant Lecturer, Leeds University |
| 1943-1946 | British Scientific Civil Service (Admiralty) |
Awards:
| 2005 | SPIE Smart Structures and Materials Lifetime Achievement Award |
| 1994 | Premier Research Award, Penn State Engineering Society |
| 1992 | MRS Award, Materials Research Society Fall Meeting |
| 1991 | W.R. Buessem Award, Center for Dielectric Studies, Penn State University |
| 1984 | Distinguished Life Fellow IEEE |
| 1983 | Election to National Academy of Engineering, Washington, DC |
| 1976 | Fellow, American Ceramic Society |
| 1951 | ICI Fellowship, Leeds University |
| Fellow, American Optical Society | |
| Fellow American Physical Society | |
Selected Publications:
- Cross, L.E., A.T. Dennison, M.M. Nicolson, R. Whiddington, “Optical Properties of BaTiO3”, Nature (London) 163-165 (1949).
- Setter, N. and L.E. Cross, “The Contribution of Structural Disorder to Diffuse Phase Transitions in Ferroelectrics”, J. Mater. Sci. 15 (10), 2478-2482 (1980).
- Cross, L.E., “Relaxor Ferroelectrics”, Ferroelectrics 76 (3-4), 241-267 (1987).
- M. J. Haun, Z. Q. Zhang, E. Furman, S. J. Jang, H. A. McKinstry, T. J. Harvin, L. E. Cross, “Thermodynamic Theory of Lead Zirconate Titanate Solid Solution System”, Ferroelectrics, 99 parts (I-V) 27-86, 198 .
- Xu, Baomin, Ronald G. Polcawich, S. Trolier-McKinstry, Yaohong Ye, and L. Eric Cross, “Sensing Characteristics of In-Plane Polarized Lead Zirconate Titanate Thin Films”, Applied Physics Letters 75 (26), 4180-4182 (1999).
