{"id":20,"date":"2025-10-15T16:59:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T20:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1408.mse.ncsu.edu\/jones\/?page_id=20"},"modified":"2025-10-15T10:25:24","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T14:25:24","slug":"research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mse.ncsu.edu\/jones\/research\/","title":{"rendered":"Research"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

Vision and Mission<\/h2>\n\n\n
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The arrangement of atoms underpins the performance of materials for applications across aerospace, medical, and consumer electronics. Crystallography, the science of identifying atomic arrangements in matter, has historically transformed society, from DNA discovery to carbon nanomaterials. Our research program focuses on advancing crystallographic methods and applying them to pressing materials challenges. Two central goals guide our work:<\/p>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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  • Developing new crystallographic methods broadly used in structural sciences.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Extracting new physical insights from representative experiments and materials that advance domain-specific problems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Our outputs include both the methods (tools, algorithms, approaches) and the discoveries (new materials, insights) that shape scientific inquiry.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    Piezoelectric Materials<\/h2>\n

    Our group researches the atomic- to\u00a0micro-scale structural\u00a0evolution of\u00a0piezoelectric\u00a0materials under\u00a0dynamic electric\u00a0fields. These\u00a0materials convert\u00a0mechanical energy\u00a0to electric energy\u00a0and assist microelectromechanical systems\u00a0(MEMS), energy\u00a0harvesting devices, piezotronics, and ultrasound\u00a0technology. Piezoelectric\u00a0materials feature\u00a0complex crystal structures\u00a0from chemical\u00a0and positional\u00a0disorder combined\u00a0with atomic\u00a0displacements. With X-ray diffraction\u00a0techniques at\u00a0synchrotron sources, we reveal\u00a0how electric-field-driven mechanisms, such as mobile\u00a0ferroelectric\/ferroelastic domain\u00a0walls interact\u00a0with defect centers, governing their\u00a0performance.\u00a0Our contributions\u00a0provide critical\u00a0insights into\u00a0how grain size\u00a0and domain wall\u00a0motion influence\u00a0classical piezoelectric properties, laying the foundation\u00a0for improved\u00a0device functionality.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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    Lead-Free Piezoelectric Materials<\/h2>\n

    Recognizing the environmental and health challenges posed by lead-containing materials, our research explores lead-free piezoelectric compounds that comply with new European regulations while maintaining useful functional properties. We have made significant strides in elucidating the complex atomic structures of promising lead-free materials such as Na\u2081\/\u2082Bi\u2081\/\u2082TiO\u2083 (NBT) through combined neutron, X-ray, and electron scattering studies. One notable achievement includes developing advanced total scattering analysis methods that reveal how specific cations respond to electric fields at the atomic scale: insights critical for optimizing Pb-free piezoelectrics. Our work has been recognized internationally, including leading a comprehensive review on this topic in the MRS Bulletin.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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    Crystallographic Methods\/Data Science<\/h2>\n

    Our group is also driving innovation in crystallographic data analysis by integrating modern statistical approaches like Bayesian inference into materials characterization. Traditional methods, such as the decades-old Rietveld refinement technique, have limitations in detecting subtle changes in heterogeneous or multiphase materials. Our novel probabilistic frameworks offer richer, more informative structural descriptions that can identify otherwise hidden features and phase transitions across a variety of materials, including ceramics, structural alloys, and biomaterials. This approach has the potential to revolutionize how researchers interpret diffraction data across disciplines and improve the fidelity of crystallographic investigations.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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    Expanding Applications<\/h2>\n

    Beyond piezoelectrics, our research is expanding to address materials challenges spanning energy storage, photocatalysis, flexible electronics, graphene, and water treatment. For instance, through a multidisciplinary collaboration funded by RTI International, we studied nanomaterials capable of recovering valuable nutrients from water sources, contributing to sustainable phosphorus cycles and clean water technologies. By advancing crystallographic methods and applying them to wide-ranging domains, our group is making valuable contributions toward solving grand societal challenges: enabling eco-friendly material development, advancing renewable energy solutions and supporting environmental remediation.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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    Interdisciplinary Approach<\/h2>\n

    Our research thrives at the intersection of materials science, statistics, mathematics, and engineering. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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    Engineering Disciplines<\/h2>\n

    \n Mechanical, chemical, environmental, nuclear, civil\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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    Fundamental Sciences<\/h2>\n

    \n Computer science, physics and statistics\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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    Beyond Engineering<\/h2>\n

    \n Partnering with social sciences to advance data science in characterization\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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    Collaborations and National Lab Partnerships<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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    Global Collaborations Driving Scientific Innovation<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Our research thrives through partnerships with local, national and international collaborators, fostering the free exchange of ideas and broadening our impact. Working closely with U.S. National Laboratories, including Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory, our group conducts cutting-edge neutron and synchrotron X-ray experiments. These collaborations provide immersive, interdisciplinary training experiences that prepare students for leadership while advancing science and technology on a global scale.<\/p>\n\t \t \n

    Read more<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Vision and Mission Our outputs include both the methods (tools, algorithms, approaches) and the discoveries (new materials, insights) that shape scientific inquiry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"views\/homepage.blade.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/split-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"backgroundColor\":\"custombg_seven\",\"imageID\":900,\"imageURL\":\"https:\/\/mse.ncsu.edu\/jones\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/09\/atomic-lattices-scaled.jpeg\",\"pageIntro\":\"Pushing Boundaries in Atomic Structure: Innovative Methods and Interdisciplinary Solutions for Tomorrow\u2019s Materials\",\"useCTA\":false,\"boxPosition\":\"left\",\"ctaNum\":\"one\",\"imageAlt\":\"Photorealistic Carbon Nanotube Structure in 8K Hexagonal Detail V8\"}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-20","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mse.ncsu.edu\/jones\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mse.ncsu.edu\/jones\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mse.ncsu.edu\/jones\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mse.ncsu.edu\/jones\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mse.ncsu.edu\/jones\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/mse.ncsu.edu\/jones\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":959,"href":"https:\/\/mse.ncsu.edu\/jones\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20\/revisions\/959"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mse.ncsu.edu\/jones\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}