Jacob Jones Research Group
Welcome
Welcome to our website. You should find information about our research and education interests, publications, recent news and events, as well as details and biographical information about Dr. Jacob L. Jones and the students in the research group. To find this information, use the main heading links on the left hand side of the page.
An brief introduction to our research
The primary aim of our research program is to develop structure-property relationships in electroactive ceramics with a particular focus on the mechanics and dynamics of domain walls and emphasis on the use of advanced diffraction tools and techniques for in situ characterization. The materials under primary investigation include piezoelectric, ferroelectric, and multiferroic crystals and ceramics which have applications including but not limited to impact and displacement sensors, actuators, microelectromechanical systems, diesel fuel injectors, vibrational energy harvesting, sonar, and ultrasound.
At the core of our research program is a project sponsored by an NSF CAREER award to develop time-resolved structure-property relationships in piezoelectric ceramics. This project combines time-resolved X-ray diffraction measurements with dynamic macroscopic properties to quantitatively determine and describe the influence of domain wall displacements on macroscopic piezoelectric nonlinearity. The macroscopic property measurements undertaken in this project are further supported by an NSF International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) award, a program that provides travel support for students from UF to work with leading European scientists on topics related to piezoelectricity.
In the pursuit of our primary research focus in electroactive materials, we have also developed capabilities and expertise related to advanced diffraction techniques that serves as a bridge to collaboration with other research groups at UF and beyond. Programmatically, these collaborations serve as a pathway to nucleate research activities on new material systems. Practically, these collaborations can involve utilization of our advanced laboratory X-ray diffractometer, collaborative experiments at national synchrotron and neutron facilities, or the interpretation of diffraction data. To further support and enable these collaborations, we have offered graduate courses to educate students on these topics (e.g., EMA 6938: Applied Crystallography and Powder Diffraction; Spring 2009).
Other initiatives
As a component of our research, we participate in numerous local, national, and international collaborations. Strong, active collaborations enable students to interact with other students and faculty both at UF and other institutions. This approach promotes the sharing of different ideas and problem solutions that originate from individuals of different backgrounds and experiences. Furthermore, the education of today’s new scientists and engineers must promote a global awareness such that engineering solutions and scientific breakthroughs take advantage of global resources and are environmentally and socio-economically advantageous on the global scale.
To facilitate both our research and educational objectives, we also develop computer tools for crystallographic analysis and visualization. These packages, as they become available, will be made available for free download from our website and are integral to performing our research as well as educating the next generation of scientists and engineers. Some of these tools are currently being developed by graduate students and are taught and applied in graduate coursework.
This website is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Nos. OISE-0402066, OISE-0755170, and DMR-0746902. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this website are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation (NSF).