  The dielectric response of materials underpins electronics and photonics.
Established semiconductor materials have a narrow range of dielectric
susceptibility, with low-frequency values on the order of 10. Strong and
variable dielectric response in wide-band gap materials is associated with
complex crystal structures and heavier elements. Based on underlying chemical
trends, we hypothesize that chalcogenides in crystal structures common to
complex oxides may feature many highly-polarizable semiconductors. Research on
these materials is motivated by fundamental inquiry into electrons and phonons
in solids, and by potential applications in photonics, high-frequency
communications, and photovoltaics.
