Introduction

Abstract

AbstractThe basic structural, electrical, and optical properties of chalcohalide bulk crystals as well as low-dimensional nanostructures are reviewed in this chapter. A plenty of different chalcohalide compounds are characterized in relation to their possible applications. The ternary pnictogen chalcohalides are analyzed particularly. A special attention is also paid to the ferroelectricity which occurs in these materials. In order to better understanding this unique phenomenon, a general introduction to the ferroelectric materials and their inherent properties are presented. The effect of reduction of particle size on the phase transition temperature is discussed. Finally, chemical composition modification and strain engineering are elaborated as two main approaches that are used to tune the Curie temperature of the chalcohalide ferroelectrics.KeywordChalcohalidesFerroelectricsNanomaterialsPhotoferroelectric semiconductorsSize effectPhase transition temperature