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The overall focus of Expert's activities is the synthesis and processing of ceramics and glasses using the sol-gel process. She edited the first volume on the applications of this process, which established the technological basis for further developments. She also serves as co-editor for the new Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology.




Expert notes that fast ion conductors containing mobile ions is one area where sol-gel processed materials have a number of likely applications. These materials in thin film form have sufficiently high ionic conductivity at room temperature to function as the solid electrolyte in batteries. The electrolyte, along with other battery materials, are an area of current interest.

Expert is skilled in using the sol-gel process to generate a microporous ceramic through the hydrolysis and polymerization of metal alkoxides and the removal of the solvent phase from interconnected porosity. This microstructure is difficult, if not impossible, to obtain by conventional ceramic processing. The porosity in sol-gel materials can be tailored to design microstructures which are useful in separations of gases, particulates, and liquids. Materials of interest are silicas, aluminas, and zirconias, both supported membranes and unsupported membranes.

Thin films of various ferroelectrics are being investigated by Expert for nonvolatile memory applications. The sol-gel process has the possibility for uniform distribution of dopants in the precursor solution which, in turn, gives uniform distribution in the polycrystalline film. Solution concentration, film thickness, and heat treatment are related to resulting film quality and orientation.

Fundamental studies on the conditions for forming crack-free monolithic gels has led to the preparation of lightweight composites using monolithic gels and polymer impregnants. Expert has just completed a chapter on the subject of organic/inorganic composites for light-weight windows for a book she is editing on Sol-Gel Optics (Kluwer Publishing, 1994).

Using an autoclave, Expert has converted silica sols to aerogels under hypercritical drying conditions. Materials less than 10 percent dense have been prepared.