Abstract Scope |
Metal oxide ceramics have a wide range of useful functions, and many support everyday technologies. For any given function, the investigation of new compositions and structural forms has the potential to reveal improved properties. Despite the many possibilities offered by the periodic table, finding such “new” functional ceramics is surprisingly (and fundamentally) difficult! Progress relies increasingly on innovative synthetic techniques and efficient ways of targeting stable compositions. In this talk, I will discuss the use of aerodynamic levitation, laser melting and glass-crystallisation for the non-equilibrium synthesis of new inorganic oxides with unusual compositions, the effect of crystal structure and composition on their luminescence properties, and the interface with new computational prediction methods for efficient guided synthesis of new materials. |