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ACerS congratulates Allen Apblett, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK for his excellence in ceramic science and engineering.  Dr. Apblett has been an ACerS member since 1991, and is active in the Nuclear and Environmental Technology Division.  

Education and Employment:

University of New Brunswick              1984                            BSc (Honours) in Chemistry

The University of Calgary                    1989                            PhD in Inorganic Chemistry

Harvard University                                1989-1991                  Postdoctoral Fellow

Starting in 1981, Allen worked as a Research Assistant in chemical analysis at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, St. Andrews, NB, Canada.   At the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, he worked for the International Olympic Committee as an analyst in the Medical Control Laboratory.  After his Postdoctoral Fellow position at Harvard, he taught from 1991 to 1997 at Tulane University in New Orleans.   He has been at Oklahoma State University since 1997.

Current Research:

Dr. Apblett’s current research in ceramics is focused on improved environmentally-friendly processes for extraction of ores, the use of ceramics for water purification and waste forms, and the synthesis of nanoparticles and advanced ceramics via metallo-organic processing. Applications of the product materials include magnetic filtration, conductive ceramic/polymer composites, phosphors, corrosion inhibitors, and catalysts.

Division Involvement:

Awards and honors:

·         ACS Environmental Division Certificate of Merit

·         Nomination as a member of Project Kaleidoscope’s Faculty for the 21st Century

·         Mortar Board Award for Excellence in Teaching

·         Governor General of Canada’s Medal

·         Lilly Endowment Teaching Fellowship

·         Oklahoma State University Inventors Recognition Award

·         Oklahoma State University’s College of Arts and Science Junior Faculty  Excellence in Research Award

Accomplishments in Ceramic Science and Engineering:

One of Apblett’s earlier successes was the development of metal carboxylates that have the unusual property of being liquid at room temperature. To date, the liquid carboxylates have been exploited for the synthesis of powders and coatings of such materials as garnets, spinels, ferrites, and high temperature superconductors. The Apblett research group has also found that a mixture of a ceramic powder with a liquid precursor yields a highly moldable putty that converts to a ceramic with very little shrinkage while maintaining its original shape. This has been used to synthesize wires and disks of  YBa2Cu3O7_- but could be used for a great variety of materials. 

Another aspect of Apblett’s research is the development of low temperature precursors for ceramic films, fibers and bodies. These precursors tend to be metal carboxylates that are specifically designed to readily decompose to the desired metal oxide and small, volatile organic fragments. Depending on the processing conditions used, these precursors can be used to prepare very high surface area nanocrystalline powders that are excellent for use as catalysts or sintering into ceramic bodies or they may be applied to the preparation of ceramic thin films on a variety of substrates, including heat-sensitive plastics.  Low temperature precursors have also been developed by the Apblett research group for metal sulfides and selenides that are useful for the manufacture of solar panels, fluorescent lighting, and water purification.

Recently, the Apblett research group has developed a new process for synthesis of ceramic oxides called the Sol-Jello process. This process involves addition of gelatin to a hot aqueous solution of metal chlorides followed by cooling to 10°C.  This leads to formation of a homogeneous gel that is then placed in a chamber containing concentrated ammonium hydroxide. Hydrolysis of the metal cations then occurs as ammonia diffuses through the gel. The by-products ammonium chloride and gelatin can be removed by heating to 600°C to yield the final metal oxide. Depending on the gelatin concentration, nanoparticulate oxides (high gelatin) or porous 3-dimensional metal oxide products (low gelatin) can be synthesized. So far the process has been used to synthesize spinel and yttrium aluminum garnet but it will be useful for a very large range of materials.

Why Dr. Apblett belongs to ACerS:  

“I joined ACerS to learn more about the field of ceramics and to network with other scientists and engineers who investigate ceramics. The biggest benefit I get from my membership is the annual conferences where I can keep up with the leading edge of ceramics research. I measure the utility of a conference on the basis of how many new research ideas I take away with me and the ACerS meetings always excel in this area”.