Stephen Boyd

From Grey Lab Page

My projects focus on determining the mechanisms underlying fast ionic conductivity and ways to enhance ionic transport in crystalline systems. Ultimately, we would like to use similar methods to enhance conductivity in solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Using fluorinated systems as models in various nanoparticles and crystalline layered structures, magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) is employed to probe local atomic environments.  To further explore how ions move through solids and methods to enhance ionic motion, exposure of nanoparticles to super-Lewis acids like antimony pentafluoride (SbF₅) has been attempted. Studies of such systems can offer much insight to vacancy distribution and production, as well as the interactions with nearby quadrupolar nuclei.