Ceramics and how we can make them
We study ceramic materials: their structure, their transformations, how polymers turn into ceramics – and what the resulting materials can do. We do this on the computer and at the bench, and the two halves inform each other.
Computation
Simulating materials, atom by atom
Density functional theory, machine-learning interatomic potentials and molecular dynamics of cells with many thousands of atoms.
Experiment
Making ceramics in the lab
Synthesis of preceramic polymers and gels, pyrolysis, and characterization by thermogravimetry, mass spectrometry, IR and Raman spectroscopy, XRD and SEM.
Experimental PhD work by Hannah Hayes, Kendall Hendrix, Poroshat Taheri and Susana Aguirre-Medel.
News
- Peter Kroll is named a Fellow of The American Ceramic Society.
- Anthropic’s AI for Science program supports our work on machine-learning potentials for ultra-high-temperature ceramics. Read more
- Hannah Hayes’ paper on SiCO gels that oxidize in “inert” gas is published in the Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology. Read it
- ACCESS features our machine-learning potential for Si–C–N–H: From Polymers to Plasma Shields.
- Kendall Hendrix’ paper on HfSiCO monoliths and fibers is published in Polymers and Polymer Composites. Read it
- Hannah Hayes completes her PhD. Congratulations, Dr. Hayes!
- Peter Kroll receives the Global Star Award of the Engineering Ceramics Division of The American Ceramic Society at ICACC 2026.
- Mitchell Falgoust completes his PhD on machine-learning potentials for SiCO ceramics. Congratulations, Dr. Falgoust!
Join us
We welcome inquiries from prospective graduate students and postdocs, for computational as well as experimental projects. Please write to Peter Kroll with a CV and a short note on your interests.