
Because nanocrystalline materials have their properties strongly dependent on the interfacial features, in this project we design low energy grain boundaries to improve mechanical behavior. In particular we are looking at oxide nanoceramics. This project is in its initial stages and the concept is slowly being developed. Some related publications:
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Colossal Grain Boundary Strengthening in Ultrafine Nanocrystalline Oxides
By:
Muche, N.F.; Drazin, J.; Mardinly, J.; Dey, S.; MATERIALS LETTERS; 2016
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Thermodynamic Strengthening of Heterointerfaces in Nanoceramics
By: Wu, Longjia; Dey, Sanchita; Mardinly, John; et al.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS Volume: 28 Issue: 9 Pages: 2897-2901 Published: MAY 10 2016

These new properties have inspired a variety of new applications in several fields, ranging from nanosensors to cathode materials for fuel cells and lithium batteries. As well, the possibility is opened for the development of new materials in response to the current energy problems such as the U.S. increasing demand for energy, dependence on foreign oils, and climate change. However, the optimization of nanoceramic processing is still a challenge, and understanding the fundamental concepts requires further research. Within this project, Prof. Castro focuses on the larger volume fraction of interfaces present in nanoceramics to improve processing control. His groups uses ultra-sensitive calorimetric techniques to quantify interfacial energies and use the data to predict and control properties. Some related publications:
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Sintering and Nanostability: The Thermodynamic Perspective
By: Castro, Ricardo H. R.; Gouvea, Douglas
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY (INVITED FEATURE ARTICLE) Volume: 99 Issue: 4 Pages: 1105-1121 Published: APR 2016
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On the thermodynamic stability of nanocrystalline ceramics
By: Castro, Ricardo H. R.
MATERIALS LETTERS Volume: 96 Pages: 45-56 Published: APR 1 2013
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Fast firing of bismuth doped yttria-stabilized zirconia for enhanced densification and ionic conductivity
By: Li, Hui; Kon, Alexander; Chang, Chi-Hsiu; et al.
JOURNAL OF THE CERAMIC SOCIETY OF JAPAN Volume: 124 Issue: 4 Pages: 370-374 Published: APR 2016
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The Nanocrystalline SnO2-TiO2 SystemPart I: Structural Features
By: Miagava, Joice; Rubbens, Annick; Roussel, Pascal; et al.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY Volume: 99 Issue: 2 Pages: 631-637 Published: FEB 2016
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The Nanocrystalline SnO2-TiO2 SystemPart II: Surface Energies and Thermodynamic Stability
By: Miagava, Joice; da Silva, Andre L.; Navrotsky, Alexandra; et al.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY Volume: 99 Issue: 2 Pages: 638-644 Published: FEB 2016
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Grain growth resistant nanocrystalline zirconia by targeting zero grain boundary energies
By: Dey, Sanchita; Chang, Chi-Hsiu; Gong, Mingming; et al.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS RESEARCH Volume: 30 Issue: 20 Pages: 2991-3002 Published: OCT 28 2015
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Obtaining highly dense YSZ nanoceramics by pressureless, unassisted sintering
By: Hotza, Dachamir; Garcia, Daniel E.; Castro, Ricardo H. R.
INTERNATIONAL MATERIALS REVIEWS Volume: 60 Issue: 7 Pages: 353-375 Published: OCT 2015
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Energetics of Oriented Attachment of Mn-Doped SnO2 Nanoparticles
By: Chang, Chi-Hsiu; Dey, Sanchita; Castro, Ricardo H. R.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C Volume: 119 Issue: 35 Pages: 20662-20672 Published: SEP 3 2015
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Modeling grain growth kinetics of binary substitutional alloys by the thermodynamic extremal principle
By: Gong, M. M.; Castro, R. H. R.; Liu, F.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE Volume: 50 Issue: 13 Pages: 4610-4621 Published: JUL 2015
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Phase Stability in Nanocrystals: A Predictive Diagram for Yttria-Zirconia
By: Drazin, John W.; Castro, Ricardo H. R.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY Volume: 98 Issue: 4 Pages: 1377-1384 Published: APR 2015
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Thermodynamic Stability of SnO2 Nanoparticles: The Role of Interface Energies and Dopants
By: Chang, Chi-Hsiu; Gong, Mingming; Dey, Sanchita; et al.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C Volume: 119 Issue: 11 Pages: 6389-6397 Published: MAR 19 2015
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Water Adsorption Microcalorimetry Model: Deciphering Surface Energies and Water Chemical Potentials of Nanocrystalline Oxides
By: Drazin, John W.; Castro, Ricardo H. R.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C Volume: 118 Issue: 19 Pages: 10131-10142 Published: MAY 15 2014
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Surface and grain boundary energies of tin dioxide at low and high temperatures and effects on densification behavior
By: Chang, Chi-Hsiu; Castro, Ricardo H. R.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS RESEARCH Volume: 29 Issue: 9 Pages: 1034-1046 Published: MAY 14 2014
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Design of Desintering in Tin Dioxide Nanoparticles
By: Chang, Chi-Hsiu; Rufner, Jorgen F.; van Benthem, Klaus; et al.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS Volume: 25 Issue: 21 Pages: 4262-4268 Published: NOV 12 2013
Radiation Tolerance of Nanoceramics
Sponsored by: Department of Energy

Nanostructured materials are likely to play a large role in future nuclear reactors and radioactive waste storage due to their strength and potential resistance to structural damage from radiation. However, this potential is hindered by significant gaps in the understanding of interfaces' properties and their role in the overall performance of the nanocrystalline structures. The lack of reliable thermodynamical data of nanomaterials makes it extremely difficult to predict and fully exploit nanomaterials' properties in high-radiation environments, this being one of the major reasons why the stability of the nanomaterials is still a big unresolved question. The goal of this project is to investigate nanomaterials with potential interest for nuclear components [the aluminate based spinels (MAl2O4, M = Mg, Ni, or Zn), investigate zirconia based materials (ZrO2 doped with Mg, Y, or Ca), and establish the link between composition, interface thermodynamics, and radiation resistance, aiming to enable a better understanding of the nature of enhanced performance in nanocrystalline ceramics. Thereafter, we will exploit the achieved knowledge as a foundation in order to design a new nanocomposite ceramic capable of withstanding high radiation exposition by using elements of interface engineering on a thermodynamic basis. This project is in collaboration with the Los Alamos National Laboratory and is supported by the US Department of Energy, division of Basic Energy Sciences. Materials Design Institute also support a parallel research. In an independent effort, we are trying to identify the role of the nanoscale in CeO2 nanostructures, and if it is possible to improve radiation tolerance of CeO2 upon doping with Mn. This work is supported by UC LabFee. Some related publications:
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Radiation Tolerance of Nanocrystalline Ceramics: Insights from Yttria Stabilized Zirconia
By: Dey, Sanchita; Drazin, John W.; Wang, Yongqiang; et al.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS Volume: 5 Article Number: 7746 Published: JAN 13 2015
- Irradiation-induced grain growth and defect evolution in nanocrystalline zirconia with doped grain boundaries
By: Dey, Sanchita; Mardinly, John; Wang, Yongqiang; et al.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS Volume: 18 Issue: 25 Pages: 16921-16929 Published: JUL 7 2016
- Improving the Thermodynamic Stability of Aluminate Spinel Nanoparticles with Rare Earths
By: Hasan, Md M.; Dey, Sanchita; Nafsin, Nazia; et al.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS Volume: 28 Issue: 14 Pages: 5163-5171 Published: JUL 26 2016
- Stabilization of MgAl2O4 spinel surfaces via doping
By: Hasan, Md. M.; Dholabhai, Pratik P.; Castro, Ricardo H. R.; et al.
SURFACE SCIENCE Volume: 649 Pages: 138-145 Published: JUL 2016
- Phase Stability in Calcia-Doped Zirconia Nanocrystals
By: Drazin, John W.; Castro, Ricardo H. R.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY Volume: 99 Issue: 5 Pages: 1778-1785 Published: MAY 2016