This project improves the quality work done by undergraduates in a required laboratory in the measurement of electronic, magnetic and optical properties of ceramic materials. Acquisition of an impedance analyzer and a temperature controlled chamber allows students to collect data for a variety of electronic materials over a wide range of frequencies and temperatures. A group of instruments to measure the DC resistivity of materials from insulators to superconductors, including a versatile constant current source, a digital multimeter and a scanner were also purchased. Funding support for these items represent the finalization of experiments that have been developed using borrowed research equipment and the refinement of educational experiments by instructors with over fifteen years experience in the teaching of materials characterization. The permanent experimental systems also allow the completion of a long desired laboratory manual. This award is being matched by an equal amount from the principal investigator's institution.
