Design and synthesis of polymers containing alternating silicon and unsaturated carbon units. Such polymers are evaluated as ceramic precursors, as electrical conductors, and as nonlinear optical materials. Synthesis and characterization of ceramic powders including oxides, sulfides and carbides. Characterization and processing of novel intermetallics for high temperature structural applications. Processing and evaluation of novel ternary silicides.
Surface phenomena in quasicrystals.
Chemistry of electrode reactions, including electrocatalysis, electrochemical incineration, and corrosion reactions. Characterization of electrocatalytic materials by modulated hydrodynamic voltammetry. Reactivity of oxidized and doped electrode surfaces, including characterization of oxygen mobility and defect density at such electrodes. Equilibrium and dynamic properties of adsorbed films. Design of optical elements of modifying the polarization of the undulator radiation and polarization analysis of the scattered beam.