Gallium and Chromium
I had a meeting with Dr. Van Orman the other day. My project is most likely changing to look at Gallium and/or Chromium diffusion instead of Scandium. When using Ga or Cr, we have the option of using Spinel(Mg2X2O4) as a diffusion source. If we use spinel, I'll get to make it in the lab via combustion synthesis. I saw Katherine doing this during the summer, and it's every bit as glorious as it sounds. The other option is to use Forsterite enriched in Ga/Cr/Sc. I've been researching Forsterite synthesis this last week and have found some pretty good information on the topic. I also have the papers mentioned in my last entry regarding differing values for diffusion in Forsterite. I have not yet read them, but I will talk about it in my next entry.
Dr. Van Orman also addressed my earlier question about why a trivalent cation would not just hop right back in to the vacancy formed when it moved. The vacancy is 'mobile', as Mg is also able to hop into the site, stopping another ion from just popping back into place.
In class we've been meeting with the geology faculty, who have been describing possible research opportunities with them. We have only two professors left I believe, Dr. Ralph Harvey and Dr. Peter Whiting.
Comments
Posted by: Laura Short
Posted on: February 12, 2008 08:48 AM
That DOES sound glorious!