NASICON crystal structure showing the tetrahedral P(4) phosphate motifs (purple), octahedral GeO6 motifs (cyan) and Na+ ions (green). Oxygen atoms are depicted in red.

An international group of researchers including CDT Student Lawrence Gammond and Prof Philip Salmon joined with scientists at Argonne National Laboratory to investigate the structure of crystalline and amorphous compounds based on the NASICON system, or sodium super-ionic conductors.  The work, using research carried out at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Photon Source (APS) was published in the Journal of Chemical Physics, and was an Editor’s choice and featured on the front cover.  The work has also been made a highlight of the APS, and will appear in its annual highlights book.