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Novel Materials Preparation and Processing Methodologies

Project Leader: Thomas A. Lograsso
Principal Investigators: Iver E. Anderson, Paul C. Canfield, R. William McCallum, Lawrence L. Jones

The growth, control and modification of novel materials in single crystal and polycrystalline form, represent a national core competency that is essential for scientific advancement within and across traditional disciplinary boundaries, and are critical components of the USDOE Basic Energy Sciences’ mission. In support of this mission, the Rational Growth, Control, and Manipulation of Novel Materials/Materials Preparation Center (Rational Growth/MPC) strengthens the materials synthesis efforts of the Ames Laboratory. 

The objectives of Rational Growth/MPC are to quantify and control processing-structure-property relationships: the basic science of how chemical inhomogeneities and structural defects affect properties of highly responsive materials; advance the ability to synthesize and characterize high purity, high quality materials, primarily in single crystal form; develop unique capabilities and processing knowledge in the preparation, purification, and fabrication of metallic elements and alloys. 

Our efforts are grouped into three areas; 1) growth-based activities that have focused on identifying the operating limits for solution growth methods by defining stable growth regimes; 2) materials-focused investigations of highly responsive materials systems where synthesis challenges often limit the science and where careful control of synthesis structure relations are vital for understanding materials behavior; and, 3) development of single crystals facilities that broaden and enhance our growth capabilities to address a wider range of materials.

In addition, the Materials Preparation Center, a specialized research center managed through the BES Synthesis & Processing core research area, provide high-purity, high-quality, and well-characterized materials in support of scientific research programs at the Ames Laboratory the general scientific community.