We make and explore new functional materials, both bulk and nano, specializing in structure-property characterization with neutrons and X-rays.
Nanocrystalline Materials
Making and probing the size, shape, interfaces and internal structures of nanocrystals to evaluate and design enhanced performance in atomic- and nano-scale material processes
Our current interests include the catalytic behavior of faceted nanocrystals such as ceria and magnesia, and the effects of size, shape and surface chemistry on internal dipole ordering in nanoscale ferroelectrics.
Examples of our published work:
S. Luo, M. Li, V. Fung, B. G. Sumpter, J. Liu, Z. Wu, and K. Page, New insights into the bulk and surface defect structures of ceria nanocrystals from neutron scattering study, Chem. Mater., 33 (2021) 3959–3970. DOI Link
B. Jiang, T. M. Usher, P. R. Jothi, K. Benard, G. Caruntu, K. Page, Effect of ligand polarity on the internal dipoles and ferroelectric distortion in BaTiO3 nanocubes, Chemistry–A European Journal, 27 (2021) 8365–8371. DOI Link
Liu, L. Yu, E. Hu, B. S. Guiton, X.-Q. Yang, and K. Page, Large scale synthesis and comprehensive structure study of δ-MnO2, Inorg. Chem., 57 (2018) 6873–6882. DOI Link
Liu, D. Olds, R. Peng, L. Yu, G. S. Foo, S. Qian, J. Keum, B. S. Guiton, Z. Wu, and K. Page, Quantitative analysis of the morphology of 101 and 001 faceted anatase TiO2 nanocrystals and its implication on photocatalytic activity, Chem. Mater., 29 (2017) 5591-5604. DOI Link
We are thankful for support from the Department of Energy Office of Science Basic Energy Sciences.
Early Career Research Program
Chemical Short-Range Order in High Entropy and Complex Oxides
Discovering and exploiting design rules for structure-property responses in energy conversion materials, ferroelectric ceramics, and more, through local to long-range cation and anion order
We are currently exploring the use of multiple anions to induce new polar symmetries and properties in archetypal oxide parent structures, and the impact of synthetic conditions on the local environments and properties of new High Entropy Oxide (HEO) ceramics.
Examples of our published work:
P. R. Jothi, W. L. N. C. Liyanage, S. Paladugu, B. Jiang, D. Olds, D. A. Gilbert, and K. Page, Persistent structure and frustrated magnetism in high entropy rare-earth zirconates, Small, in press (2021) 2101323. DOI Link
X. Wang, B. Jiang, Y. Zhang, Y.-I. Kim, and K. Page, Influence of cation size on the local atomic structure and electronic properties of Ta perovskite oxynitrides, Inorg. Chem., 60 (2021) 14190–14201. DOI Link
B. Jiang, C. A. Bridges, R. R. Unocic, K. C. Patike, V. R. Cooper, Y. Zhang, D.-Y. Lin, and K. Page, Probing the local site disorder and distortion in pyrochlore high-entropy oxides, J. Am. Chem. Soc., in press. DOI Link
J. Liu, X. Wang, O. J. Borkiewicz, E. Hu, R.-J. Xiao, L. Chen, and K. Page, Unified view of the local cation-ordered state in inverse spinel oxides, Inorg. Chem., 58 (2019) 14389-14402. DOI Link
B. Song, E. Hu, J. Liu, Y. Zhang, X.-Qing Yang, N. Jagjit, A. Huq, and K. Page, P3-type Na2/3Mg1/3Mn2/3O2 as a high capacity and low-cost sodium-ion cathode using oxygen redox reaction, J. Mater. Chem. A, 7 (2019) 1491-1498. DOI Link
We are thankful for support from the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund and the National Science Foundation CAREER Award Program (from the Solid State Materials Chemistry, Division of Materials Resarch).
Material Behaviors Under Extremes
Studying material resistance under exposure to irradiation, high temperature, or shock conditions
We are currently studying the microstructures and mechanical properties of hybrid materials produced by solid-state additive manufacturing (a project led by Suresh Babu at UT) and the ion-irradiation induced structural changes of mineral aggregates in nuclear industry concretes (a project led by John Popovics at UIUC).
We are thankful for support from the U. S. Department of Defense Army Research Laboratory (ARL) and the U. S. Department of Energy Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP).
Neutron and X-ray Scattering
Developments
Advancing and applying neutron and x-ray scattering probes at the forefront of materials characterization
We are passionate about contributing to the development and accessibility of new scattering probes and methods. We specialize in applying diffraction and total scattering techniques towards understanding defect, nano, chemical, and electronic structure-property responses from atomic to micro length-scales.
Examples of our published work:
P. C. Metz, T. Huegle, D. Olds, and K. Page, Simulating and benchmarking neutron total scattering instrumentation from inception of events to reduced and fitted data, J. Appl. Cryst., 54 (2021). DOI Link
P. C. Metz, S. C. Purdy, M. R. Ryder, A. Ganesan, S. Nair, and K. Page, Detailed total scattering analysis of disorder in ZIF-8, J. Appl. Cryst. 54 (2021), in press. DOI Link
P. F. Peterson, D. Olds, M. T. McDonnell, and K. Page, Illustrated formalisms for total scattering data: a guide for new practitioners, J. Appl. Cryst., 54 (2021) 317-332. DOI Link
T.-M. Usher, D. Olds, J. Liu, and K. Page, A numerical method for deriving shape function of nanoparticles for pair distribution function refinements, Acta Cryst. A, 74 (2018) 322–331. DOI Link
D. Olds, C. N. Saunders, M. Peters, T. Proffen, J. Neuefeind, and K. Page, Precise implications on realspace PDF modeling from effects intrinsic to modern time of flight neutron diffractometers, Acta Cryst. A, 74 (2018) 293–307. DOI Link
We gratefully acknowledge support of our research programs from the Tickle College of Engineering at the University of Tennessee.