| Research in the Interface Physics Group aims to understand the fundamental structure-property relationships and processes that occur at interfaces and defects in both engineering and biological systems. Although interfaces and defects may only account for a small fraction of the volume of a biological system, structural material, or electronic device, they can have a significant effect on the overall mechanical, electrical, (bio)-chemical and thermal properties. For nanostructured systems where interfaces make up a larger fraction of the overall structure, the processes that take place at interfaces become dominant in determining the overall function of a system.
To understand the fundamental processes occurring at interfaces and defects we need to be able to see the structures directly and characterize the number of atoms present and how they are bonded to their neighbors. This is achieved through the use of state-of-the-art transmission electron microscopes. As part of the research program in the Interface Physics Group, current and former group members have pushed the frontiers of imaging and spectroscopy in the Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope (STEM), and more recently have been developing in-situ capabilities for high time resolution studies in the Dynamic Transmission Electron Microscope (DTEM).
Current research efforts in the Interface Physics Group are aimed at developing systems to observe “live” biological structures in the STEM/DTEM, nucleation and growth of nanoparticles and biomineralization, the study of grain boundaries in electroceramics for fuel cell applications, oxide heterostructures for multiferroics, nanoscale metal clusters used for heterogeneous catalysts.
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