Dr. Ubic's background is in Materials Science. He obtained both his Bachelors (1993) and Masters (1994) degrees in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Case Western Reserve University.  His earned his PhD (1998) from the University of Sheffield, England where he stayed on for two subsequent years as a post-doctoral research associate.  He arrived as a lecturer (assistant professor) at Queen Mary, University of London at the end of 1999 and was promoted to senior lecturer (associate professor) in 2005.  In 2007 he moved to Boise State University to help lead teaching and research involving the JEOL JEM-2100 HR transmission electron microscope (TEM). He is now the director of the Boise State Center for Materials Characterization (BSCMC) and the Microscopy & Characterization Suite (MaCS) at the Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) in Idaho Falls.

Dr. Ubic has received several awards, including the 1998 Berthold Eichler Memorial Prize from G.R. Stein Refractories Ltd., the American Ceramic Society's (ACerS) 2003 Edward C. Henry Best Paper Award for his high-resolution TEM work on defect pyrochlores, the ACerS 2004 Robert L. Coble Award for Young Scholars for his "contributions relating crystallography to the behavior of dielectric properties in complex compounds," and the 2006 Edgar Andrews Best Journal Article Prize for his work on the structure of a perovskite superlattice.

Dr. Ubic is a member of the Electron Microscopy and Analysis Group of the Institute of Physics, the American Ceramic Society; and he currently serves as an associate editor of the Materials Research Bulletin.

• 2002 Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, University of London
• 1998 PhD, Engineering Materials, Sheffield University
• 1994 MS (Eng), Case Western Reserve University
• 1993 BS (Eng), Case Western Reserve University

• M. Otoniar, S.D. Škapin, B. Janar, R. Ubic, and D. Suvorov, “Analysis of crystal and domain structure in K_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃ perovskite ceramics by in-situ XRD and TEM,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society, submitted.
• T. Joseph, P.S. Anjana S. Letourneau, R.Ubic, S. van Smaalen, and M.T. Sebastian, “Structure and microwave dielectric properties of Ca₅A₄TiO₁₇ (A = Nb, Ta) ceramics,” Materials Chemistry and Physics, in press.
• J.J. Bian, L.L. Yuan, and R. Ubic, "New perovskite oxides of the type (M_1/4Ln_3/4)(Mg_1/4Ti_3/4)O₃ (M = Na, Li Ln = La, Nd, Sm): Crystal structure and microwave dielectric properties," Ceramic Transactions, in press.
• R. Ubic, S. Letourneau, S. Thomas, G. Subodh, M.T. Sebastian, "Structure, microstructure and microwave dielectric properties of (Sr_2-xCa_x)(MgTe)O₆ double perovskites," Chemistry of Materials, 22 4572-4578 (2010).

  R. Ubic and G. Subodh, “The prediction of lattice constants in orthorhombic perovskites,” Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 488 374-379 (2010).

• R. Ubic, G. Subodh, M.T. Sebastian, D. Gout, and T. Proffen, "Structure of Sr_0.4Ce_0.4TiO₃," Chemistry of Materials, 21 4706-4710 (2009).

  R. Ubic, G. Subodh, M.T. Sebastian, D. Gout, and T. Proffen, "Effective size of vacancies in the Sr_1-3x/2Ce_xTiO₃ superstructure," Ceramic Transactions, 204 177-185 (2009).

• X. Lu, Y. Lee, S. Yang, Y. Hao, R. Ubic, J.R.G. Evans, and C.G. Parini, “Fabrication of millimeter-wave electromagnetic bandgap crystals using microwave dielectric powders, ” Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 92 [2] 371-378 (2009).
• X. Lu, Y. Lee, S. Yang, Y. Hao, R. Ubic and C.G. Parini, Fabrication of Electromagnetic Crystals by Extrusion Freeforming,” Metamaterials, in press.
• G. Subodh, M.T. Sebastian, D. Gout, and T. Proffen, “Structure of compounds in the Sr_1-3x/2Ce_xTiO₃ Homologous Series,” Chemistry of Materials, 20 [9] 3127-3133 (2008).
• R. Ubic, I. Abrahams, and Y. Hu, “Oxide Ion Disorder in Nd₂Hf₂O₇,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 91 [1] 235–239 (2008).
• Y.J. Lee, X.S. Lu, Y. Hao, S.F. Yang, R. Ubic, J.R.G. Evans, and C.G. Parini, "Rapid prototyping of cerami millimeterwave metamaterials: Simulations and experiments," Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, 49 [9] 2090-2093 (2007).
• J.J. Bian, K. Yan, and R. Ubic, "Structure and Microwave Dielectric Properties of Sm_(2-x)/3Li_xTiO₃Journal of Electroceramics, 18 283-288 (2007).
• R. Ubic"Revised Method for the Prediction of Lattice Constants in Cubic and Pseudocubic Perovskites," Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 90 [10] 3326-3330 (2007).
• Y. Lee, X. Lu, Y. Hao, S. Yang, R. Ubic, J.R.G. Evans, and C.G. Parini, Directive Millimetre-Wave Antenna Based on Freeformed Woodpile EBG Structure,” Electronics Letters, 43 195 (2007).
• R. Ubic, Y. Hu, and Abrahams, “Neutron and Electron Diffraction Studies of La(Zn_½Ti_½)O₃ Perovskite,” Acta Crystallographica, B62 521-529 (2006).
• H. Yan, H. Zhang, R. Ubic, M.J. Reece, J. Liu, Z. Shen, “Orientation Dependence of Dielectric and Relaxor Behaviour in Aurivillius Phase BaBi₂Nb₂O₉ Ceramics Prepared by Spark Plasma Sintering,” Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics, 17 [9] 657-661 (2006)
• H. Yan, H. Zhang, Z. Zhang, R. Ubic, and M.J. Reece, “B-Site Donor and Acceptor Doped Aurivillius Phase Bi₃NbTiO₉ Ceramics,” Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 26 2785-2792 (2006).
• R. Ubic, Y. Hu, K. Khamoushi, and Abrahams, “Structure and Properties of La(Zn_½Ti_½)O₃,” Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 26 1787-1790 (2006).
• H. Yan, H. Zhang, R. Ubic, M.J. Reece, J. Liu, Z. Shen, and Z. Zhang, “A Lead-Free High Curie Point Ferroelectric Ceramic, CaBi₂Nb₂O₉,” Advanced Materials, 17 1261-1265 (2005).
• R. Ubic, K. Khamoushi, D. Iddles, and T. Price, “Processing and Dielectric Properties of La(Zn_½Ti_½)O₃ and Nd(Zn_½Ti_½)O₃,” Ceramic Transactions, 167 (eds. K.M. Nair, R. Guo, A.S. Bhalla, S-I. Hirano, and D. Suvorov), 21-30 (2005).
• H. Zheng, I.M. Reaney, G.D.C. Csete de Gyorgyfalva, R. Ubic, J. Yarwood, M.P. Seabra, and V.M. Ferreira, “Raman Spectroscopy of CaTiO₃-Based Perovskite Solid Solutions,” Journal of Materials Research, 19 [2] 488-495
• R. Ubic, J.C. Merry, and A.C. Leach, “Electron Microscopy of Lead and Calcium Pyrochlores,” Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 24 [6] 1725-1728 (2004).
• H. Zheng, G.D.C. Csete de Györgyfalva, R. Quimby, H. Bagshaw, R. Ubic, I.M. Reaney, and J. Yarwood, “Raman Spectroscopy of B-Site Order-Disorder in CaTiO₃ - Based Microwave Ceramics,” Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 23 2653-2659 (2003).
• H. Zheng, H. Bagshaw, G.D.C. Csete de Györgyfalva, I.M. Reaney, R. Ubic, and J. Yarwood, “Raman Spectroscopy and Microwave Properties of CaTiO₃-Based Ceramics,” Journal of Applied Physics, [5] 2948-2956 (2003).
• R. Ubicand I.M. Reaney, “Structure and Dielectric Properties of Lead Pyrochlores,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 85 [10] 2472-78 (2002).
• J.C. Merry, A.C. Leach, and R. Ubic, “Lead Doped Calcium Niobate-Tantalate Pyrochlores: Phase Structure and Dielectric Properties,” British Ceramic Transactions, 101 [4] 143-145 (2002).
• R. Ubic, J.C. Merry. A.C. Leach, and I.M. Reaney, “Defect Structure of Lead Pyroniobates,” Institute of Physics Conference Series, 168 19-22 (2001).
• I.M. Reaney, P. Wise, R. Ubic, J. Breeze, N.M. Alford, D. Iddles, D. Cannell, T. Price, “On the Temperature Coefficient of Resonant Frequency in Microwave Dielectrics,” Philosophical Magazine, A81 [2] 501-510 (2001).
• R. Ubic and I.M. Reaney, “Electron Microscopy of Lead Pyroniobate,” Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 21 [10-11] 2123-2126 (2001).
• R. Ubic and I.M. Reaney, “Microwave Properties of Doped Lead Pyroniobate,” Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 21 [15] 2659-2662 (2001).
• I.M. Reaney and R. Ubic, “Talking Microwaves: A Review of Ceramics at the Heart of the Telecommunications Network,” International Ceramics, 48-52 (2000).
• R. Ubic and I.M. Reaney, “Lead Niobate Ceramics for Microwave Dielectric Resonators,” p. 263-275 in Ceramic Transactions, Vol.106, Electronic Ceramic Materials and Devices (eds. K.M. Nair and A.S. Bhalla) The American Ceramic Society, Westerville City, Ohio USA (2000).
• P.L. Wise, I.M. Reaney, R. Ubic, W.E. Lee, and D. Iddles, “Periodicity and its Relation to Microwave Dielectric Properties in the Series Sr_0.8Ca_0.2TiO₃, Sr_1.6Ca_0.4TiO₄ and Sr_2.4Ca_0.6Ti₂O₇,” Institute of Physics Conference Series, 161 161-164 (1999).
• P.L. Wise, I.M. Reaney, R. Ubic, W.E. Lee, and D. Iddles, “Structure-Property Relations in the Homologous Series Sr_n+1Ti_nO_3n+1,” British Ceramic Proceedings, 60 571-572 (1999).
• R. Ubic and I.M. Reaney, “Crystal Structure of Lead Pyroniobate,” Institute of Physics Conference Series, 161 157-160 (1999).
• I.M. Reaney and R. Ubic, “Dielectric and Structural Characteristics of Perovskites and Related Materials as a Function of Tolerance Factor,” Ferroelectrics, 228 [1-4] 23-28 (1999).
• R.Ubic, I.M. Reaney, W.E. Lee, J. Samuels, and E. Evangelinos, “Properties of the Microwave Dielectric Phase Ba_6-3xNd_8+2xTi₁₈O₅₄,” Ferroelectrics, 228 [1-4] 271-282 (1999).
• R.Ubic, I.M. Reaney, W.E. Lee, J. Samuels, and E. Evangelinos, “Ba_6-3xNd_8+2xTi₁₈O₅₄ Microwave Dielectric Resonators,” Ferroelectrics, 223 293-300 (1999).
• R. Ubic, I.M. Reaney, and W.E. Lee, “Space Group Determination of Ba_6-3xNd_8+2xTi₁₈O₅₄,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 82 [5] 1336-38 (1999).
• R. Ubic, I.M. Reaney, W.E. Lee, “Perovskite NdTiO₃ in Sr- and Ca-Doped BaO-Nd₂O₃-TiO₂ Microwave Dielectric Ceramics,” Journal of Materials Research, 14 [4] 1576-1580 (1999).
• F.R. Chien, F.J. Ubic, V. Prakash, and A.H.Heuer, “Stress-Induced Martensitic Transformation and Ferroelastic Deformation Adjacent Microhardness Indents in Tetragonal Zirconia Single Crystals, Acta Materialia, 46 [6] 2151-2171 (1998).
• R. Ubic, I.M. Reaney, W.E. Lee, “The Microwave Dielectric Solid-Solution Phase in the System BaO-Nd₂O₃-TiO₂,” International Materials Reviews, 43 [5] 205-219 (1998).
• R. Ubic, I.M. Reaney, and W.E. Lee, “Microwave Resonators in the System BaO•Nd₂O₃•TiO₂,” Institute of Physics Conference Series, 153 613-616 (1997).
• R. Ubic, I.M. Reaney, W.E. Lee, J. Samuels, and E. Evangelinos, “Effect of Divalent Dopants on the Properties of Ba_3.75Nd_9.5Ti₁₈O₅₄ Microwave Dielectric Resonators,” MRS Proceedings, 453 495-500 (1997).
• G. Behrens, L. Kuhn, R. Ubic, and A.H. Heuer, “Raman Spectra of Vateritic Calcium Carbonate,” Spectroscopy Letters, 28 [6] 983-95 (1995).

• Dr. Ubic's research interests are in structure-property relationships in mirowave dielectric materials, ceramic ionic conductors for fuel cells, and nano-technology as it relates to solar energy generation.  His background is in materials science, and his principle expertise is in materials chemistry and structural characterization, especially electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction. He has received more than $3.2 million in research funding from a variety of sources, and he has given invited presentations on various aspects of his research at international forums in nine countries across four continents.

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  Microwave Dielectric Resonators

  On 3 April 1973, Martin Cooper, an executive at the fledgling Motorola company, stood on a street corner in Manhattan and tested his invention by calling rival AT&T to announce his breakthrough. In 1978, the world’s first experimental analogue mobile phone service was developed in the USA. Of course, the earliest mobiles were analogue, weighed almost 1.4 kg, had a battery life of less than a day, and sold for several thousand dollars. Eventually, phones shrank and evolved into what we see today. WAP phones were introduced in 1999, and the first camera phone entered the market in 2000. In 1996 only about 14% of Americans owned mobile phones. Today, there are more mobile phone subscriptions in the USA than there are people, and the latest generation phones weigh as little as 114g and offer features like Internet and TV access.

  Worldwide there are currently about 4.1 billion mobile phone users, making the cellular phone the fastest-selling consumer item in history. The mobile phone is the most widely-spread technology on the planet. There are three times as many mobile phones than PCs of any kind in the world and more mobile phones than cars. There are over twice as many mobile phone users as internet users, and more mobile phone users than people with a credit card. Twice as many people use SMS text messaging worldwide than use e-mail, with 75,000 messages sent every second in the USA!

  Microwave resonators are used extensively in telecommunications equipment, including cellular telephones and satellite links, and are at the heart of this multi-billion dollar market. Oxide ceramics are critical elements in these devices, and a full understanding of the crystal chemistry of such materials is paramount to future development.

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  What is a Dielectric Resonator?

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  Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs)

  Unlike the alkaline fuel cells which powered the Apollo spacecraft to the moon, solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have no electrolyte management problems and can generate power at 50 to 60 percent efficiency - far surpassing technologies like gas turbines, internal combustion engines, and steam turbines. Increasing the ionic conductivity of ceramic electrolytes is likely to be critical to the future development of SOFCs. Materials with a significant degree of crystallographic disorder are good candidates for such applications and may become part of future energy solutions.

• MSE 305 (Bonding, Crystallography & Crystal Defects)
• MSE 421/521 (Introduction to Electron Microscopy)
• MSE 422/522 (Advanced TEM)