MS&E Seminar: Christine A. Orme

Christine A. Orme
Physicist
Material Science Division
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Most crystals used in technology are synthesized by vapor deposition or from the melt. The crystal growth community has made significant advances towards controlling assembly by simplifying the system—that is, by devising ways to remove impurities and by growing materials in vacuum environments. However, as an alternate paradigm, biomineralizing systems, which create highly complex three-dimensional shapes with controlled composition and structure, typically evolve in complicated, multicomponent solution environments. In these systems, environmental complexity is essential to tune the growth. Thus, it has become clear that one of the frontiers for materials assembly is to develop a quantitative and predictive framework that will provide the same level of control that we experience in vacuum/melt growth but that actively utilizes environmental complexity. These complex fluid environments are typical for batteries, electrodeposition, the synthesis of nanomaterials, and increasingly, the development of new nanoparticle architectures.

This talk will examine two examples of crystal growth in complex solutions: zinc electrodeposition, relevant to rechargeable battery applications and superlattice assembly, relevant to emerging nanoparticle materials. These systems are chosen as examples of traditional and non-traditional crystal growth modes. In both cases we take advantage of electric fields to drive growth. Our studies use several in situ techniques including electrochemical atomic force microscopy, electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance, and electrochemical small angle scattering.

Date/Time:
Date(s) - Aug 22, 2017
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm

Location:
2101 Engineering V
420 Westwood Plaza Los Angeles CA 90095