1992 MRS Fall Meeting Extends Boundaries of Materials Science
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ile there is still much to learn about the fundamentals of fullerene and cuprate superconductivity, development for device applications of the cuprates is forging ahead. For example, long-wire lengths of
Bi-based cuprates imbedded in a Ag matrix and superconducting field effect transistors using a YBa2Cu,O7/SrTiC\/Au structure are being developed. Researchers showed how chemistry and ordering can be used to alter sensing surfaces, conductive polymers, zeolite surfaces, and other materials by design, no longer relying only on what is offered by nature. Then there were those who found that nuts, silk, shells, and other biomolecular materials have lessons to teach, possibly worth duplicating or perhaps useful in a modified form. Genetic engineering has led to cell-specific targeting of molecules for drug delivery and biocompatible peptides that prevent post-operative surgical adhesions. A novel rechargeable Li]+xMn2O4/C bat-
• Turnbull Lectureship.
Thomas Anthony, General Electric Research and Development Center, received the first Turnbull Lectureship award, recognizing the career of a scientist who has made outstanding contributions to the understanding of phenomena through research, writing, and lecturing, as exemplified by David Turnbull. As part of the award, Anthony gave a lecture at the Fall Meeting. His talk, titled "Understanding Materials with Elemental Physical Models and Simple Experiments," began by honoring David TurnbuU's life and his methods, then finished by deThomas Anthony (left), the first recipient of the MRS Turnbull scribing his own work. Lectureship, talks to David Turnbull, Professor Emeritus at Haroard University, before giving his lecture. TurnbuU's approach to solving problems, Anthony said, is to (1) think deeply about the problem at the atomic level, (2) create a clean physical model, and (3) conceive of simple experiments to test that model. Anthony then described a handful of his own "Turnbull-like" experiments. For example, while Anthony was a student of TurnbuU's at Harvard, they examined fast diffusion of Au in Pb. Au diffused faster in Pb than expected for substitutional diffusion—the mechanism expected, based on relative solute size. Indirect evidence indicated it must actually be interstitial diffusion, but the two scientists sought direct evidence. Their experiment involved putting the material in a high-speed centrifuge. Since Au is lighter than Pb, if the Au were substitutional, it would be forced up the gravitational field. If interstitial, it would not have to displace the Pb, so it would go down the field. The result was that the Au was thrown out to the periphery and, after calculating back using thermodynamics, they were able to show that the Au was entirely interstitial in Pb. Anthony, as Turnbull Lecturer, will be available to give lectures for MRS chapters and sections throughout the year. For more information, contact John B. Ballance, Executive Director, Materials Research Society, 9800 McKnight Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237; telephone, (412) 367-3003.
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