Possible Areas of specialization:

• fiber optic materials for transmission, surgical applications, and sensing
• nanostructured materials for structural and photonic applications
• dielectric materials, including ferroelectric piezoelectric, and ferromagnetic ceramics
• battery and fuel cell materials
• relation of microstructure and properties of ceramic materials
• biomaterials and ultrasonic sensors
• structure and properties of glass
• preparation and properties of ceramic powders
• sol-gel processing
• solid free-form fabrication
• computer simulations of molecular structure and kinetics of glass
• sintering studies
• ceramic-metal systems

The focus of much of the research in ceramics is on the science and technology of the synthesis, characterization, consolidation, and processing of advanced ceramics materials. this includes topics such as tape casting, rapid prototyping methods, injection molding, sintering, preceramic polymer pyrolysis, sol-gels for coatings, filters, and battery components. Students will study surfaces using scanning tunneling microscopes and atomic force microscopes and by employing computer simulations using molecular dynamics. Ceramics with nanocrystalline microstructures are being studied as well as dielectric, ferroelectric, piezoelectric, and other active/functional materialsfor electronic substrates, capacitors, actuators, sensors, and smart/intelligent materials. The fiber-optic material research program examines the synthesis of optical materials and the fabrication and characterization of optical waveguides. It also examines numerous fiber-device applications, including fiber lasers and amplifiers, optical sensors, infrared and ultraviolet transmitting fibers, and fibers for optical power delivery. A prospective candidate must spend a minimum of one academic year in residence as a full-time student taking courses or pursuing research. Academic and research training in packaging science and engineering is available in this program. For further information, see the packaging science and engineering courses and program description in this section under Packaging Science and Engineering.