EPSRC logo

Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/C003594/1
Title: Design of Intermediate Range Order in Amorphous Materials
Principal Investigator: Salmon, Professor PS
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Professor RA Martin
Project Partners:
University of Warwick
Department: Physics
Organisation: University of Bath
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 April 2005 Ends: 30 September 2008 Value (£): 306,172
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Condensed Matter Physics Materials Characterisation
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Aerospace, Defence and Marine Manufacturing
Transport Systems and Vehicles
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The objective of this proposal is to gain definitive experimental information on several key network glass forming systems and their modifications by applying the method of isotopic substitution in neutron diffraction. The aim is to solve some long-standing challenges and to direct the way forward for improving models such as those based on molecular dynamics calculations. The work focuses on (a) binary systems in which the bonding, and hence the network topologies, are markedly different and (b) networks modified by rare-earth compounds which make them of significant technological importance. The latter work on rare-earth glasses will benefit from information obtained by magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) experiments provided via a collaboration with Prof. Mark Smith at Warwick. The ultimate objective is to provide sufficient insight into the network structure that glasses can be manipulated, or designed, to make materials with desired functional properties.Specific themes to be covered include the roles of ionicity and covalency in determining the network structures of two proto-typical binary network systems, namely ZnCl_2 and GeO_2. The phenomenon of photo-structural change in glassy networks will also be investigated by studying the detailed structure of two generic chalcogenide glasses both before and after illumination with light of band-gap energy. The clustering of rare-earth ions in glasses, which can have a deleterious effect on their optical properties, will be elucidated by combining the results obtained from neutron diffraction and MAS NMR.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Summary
Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:  
Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.bath.ac.uk