Undergraduate Research Project Opportunity in Materials Science
We have a new opportunity of an interdisciplinary research project for a motivated
undergraduate student with major concentration in Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry,
or Chemical Engineering. The project is for synthesis of electroactive polymer thin films, and it
involves two major processes: (1) wet process (spin coating) and (2) metallic electrode
deposition using rf-magnetron sputtering. This project can be especially of interest to students
who consider a longer-term involvement in research throughout this summer semester (TURC
program) and thereafter.
Interested students are cordially invited to talk to
Dr. Alexei Grigoriev (Physics, alexei-grigoriev@utulsa.edu) or
Dr. Michael Keller (Mechanical Engineering, michael-keller@utulsa.edu)
Undergraduate Research Projects in Physics of Ferroelectrics
There are several research opportunities for motivated undergraduate students with major concentration in Physics or Engineering Physics. These include projects with focus on:
1) Electriacal Characterization of Ferroelectric Thin-Film Capacitors.
This project is to study polarization switching characteristics of ferroelectric thin-film capacitors which can include one or several of the following: (a) electric field dependence of the switchable polarization and switching time properties; (b) temperature dependence of switchable polarization and switching time (this will involve construction of a sample temperature control system); (c) amplitude/frequency-dependent dielectric properties of ferroelectric thin films (capacitance, dielectric constant, dielectric loss).
2) Synthesis of thin-film materials
This project can be focused on one of the two main thin film preparation techniques used in our lab.
(a) rf-magnetron sputtering of thin oxide and metal films. This projects involves deposition of ferroelectric oxide films and metallic layers using an ultra-high vacuum system equipped with rf-magnetron sputtering guns.
(b) sol-gel based synthesis of ferroelectric thin films. This project uses a ‘wet’ process to synthesis ferroelectric materials, and it might be of a particular intersts to students interested in chemistry of materials.
3) Theoretical analysis of x-ray reflectivity of multilayer oxide systems
This project will involve fitting analysis of x-ray reflectivity with models for electron density profiles of multilayer oxide thin films. Basic knowledge of C-programming language is desirable but nor required. Involved students will learn about modern x-ray scattering techniques and data analysis tecniques
Interested students are cordially invited to talk to
Dr. Alexei Grigoriev (Physics, L159 or L132, alexei-grigoriev@utulsa.edu)