Upcoming Lectures
This lecture series is sponsored by the Materials Research Institute, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering Science and Mechanics, and Nuclear Engineering Departments
February 26, 2026
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
N-203 Millennium Science Complex
University Park, PA
An Atomistic Perspective on Interfaces in Oxides
Dr. Blas Pedro Uberuaga
Los Alamos National Laboratory
ABSTRACT:
Interfaces - grain boundaries and heterointerfaces – in oxides are both ubiquitous and critical for determining functionality. However, their inherent complexity brings challenges for both understanding and predicting properties. I will describe how we use atomistic modeling to provide new insight into the structure and properties of interfaces in ionic oxides. We examine factors such as chemical order, non-equilibrium defect segregation, and transport mechanisms, correlating these to the structure of the interface. A primary focus has been on semi-coherent interfaces in which misfit dislocations play a critical role on properties. I will highlight a number of results we have obtained over the years that emphasize the richness of these interfaces.
BIO:
Blas Pedro Uberuaga received his BA in Physics from the University of Idaho in 1994 and his PhD in Physics from the University of Washington in 2000. He has been with Los Alamos National Laboratory ever since. His research focuses on using atomistic modeling to understand radiation damage in materials, particularly complex oxides and nanostructured materials, with an emphasis on defect kinetics. He currently leads projects targeting transport in disordered complex oxides, the coupled effect of irradiation and corrosion, and the performance of optoelectronic materials under irradiation. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and of Los Alamos National Laboratory.