Student Hosted Colloquia: Professor Geneva Laurita, Bates College
Photo Credits: Ram Seshadri, 2017
About the Seminar
Local Distortions and Long-Range Polarity in Pyrochlore Oxides from Total Scattering
The pyrochlore structure exhibits myriad of technologically relevant properties including superconductivity, ferroelectricity, and frustrated magnetism. There has been a wealth of research on the structural and compositional intricacies of these compounds. However, there exist few design principles in regard to the intentional manipulation of the chemistry and structure for desired functionality. Here we will describe drivers of polarity on the pyrochlore structure through a combination of structural, computational, and physical characterization techniques. The main focus will be on the use of total scattering to establish structure-property relationships in these systems.
About the Speaker
Geneva Laurita completed her B. S. in Chemistry at the University of Northern Colorado in 2010, her Ph. D. in Chemistry at Oregon State University in 2014, and postdoctoral research at the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2017. She joined the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Bates College in 2017 and is currently an Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Her research focuses on understanding the structure—property relationships of solid state oxides with an emphasis on neutron and synchrotron X-ray total scattering techniques. A major component of her work is undergraduate exposure to National Laboratory User Facilities.