Ref: 1. Raines et al, Nature 463 (2010) 215.

1. Determining the structure of bioactive glassesJinchengDu, University of North Texas, DMR 0907593 The rational design of bioactive glass compositions for various biomedical applications are hindered by lack of understanding of the atomic structure of these glasses. We combine atomistic level simulations and diffraction methods to obtain reliable structure models of bioactive glasses. We have developed the idea of ankylography (collaboration with UCLA) to use single view of soft X-ray diffraction to determine the three dimensional structure [1]. We proved the concept by using sodium silicate glass as a model system of complex amorphous systems [1]. We have studied strontium substituted 45S5 bioglasses using molecular dynamics simulations. The effect of SrO/CaO substitution on the structure and dynamic properties has been investigated [2]. Fig. 1 Principle of Ankylography (a), atomic structure (b), electron density distributions (c) and strontium environment in Sr substituted 45S5 bioglass (d). Ref: 1. Raines et al, Nature 463 (2010) 215. 2. Xiang and Du, Chem. Materials Submitted.

2. Introducing ceramics to local high school studentsJincheng Du, University of North Texas, DMR 0907593 In the past summer, we participated in the Material Camp organized by the Department of Materials Science and Engineering of UNT and cosponsored by ASM. We led on the module of glass and ceramic materials, in which we introduced the basics of ceramics including bioceramics to local high school students and have had hands modules including glass melting. The Camp attracted 30 students from the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Dr. Du was one of the advisors who guided the Summer Camp and he has been faculty advisor of the UNT chapter of Material Advantage that led the efforts of the camp. (Top picture) Graduate student, Ye Xiang who has been supported by this project, is showing the summer camp students to prepare raw materials of soda-lime-silicate glasses. (Bottom picture) Carl Marandi (with mask and gloves, MSE undergrad) was pouring molten glass.