With the publication of its 500th Volume, the journal FERROELECTRICS has reached an important milestone. When the journal first began in 1970, the international ferroelectrics community was small and publication was limited to one volume per year. Over the following 47 years, the journal has grown considerably to a current publication rate of 16 volumes per year. This growth is a result of the increase in the number of the scientists in more than 40 countries that are working on ferroelectric materials and their applications. While research scientists in Russia, Japan, South Korea and the USA and in nearly every country in Europe continue to be very active, many other countries in particular China, India, Thailand, Taiwan and Brazil are now also major contributors in the study of ferroelectricity and related phenomena.
FERROELECTRICS is the pre-eminent international archival journal in the field covering all aspects of the theory, fabrication, properties and applications of ferroelectric and related materials. A major driver in the growth of research in the field has been the very many significant applications of these materials which include but are not limited to: computer memories, electronic displays, harvesting energy and a wide range of sensor and actuator devices, for robotics, bioengineering and medical electronics.
The breadth and depth of research and development of ferroelectrics continues to grow. New inorganic, organic and bio crystals are being identified and characterized. New techniques, such as piezoresponse force microscopy, are being used to study ferroelectric properties. Alternative methods of processing are being developed, with a particular emphasis on thin film fabrication and nanotechnology. And, extensive new studies are being made of multi functionality in ferroelectric materials.
The success of a specialized international scientific journal such as FERROELECTRICS, which fulfils the need of the international scientific community, would not be possible without the expert advice and support of the current Associate Editors; Amar S. Bhalla, Yoshihiro Ishibashi, Sidney B. Lang, Jan Petzelt, Alexander S. Sigov and Deborah J. Taylor and the 42 current Members of the Editorial Board who come from 18 countries. I would like to take this opportunity of thanking each of them for their many contributions over many years. I also would like to thank the thousands of unsung heroes, the Referees who have given generously of their expertise and time in peer reviewing papers which is critical for maintaining the high standard of the journal. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the excellent job Taylor and Francis does in publishing FERROELECTRICS and ensuring that the journal is widely distributed both electronically and in hard copy format.