Thomas Scharf and Jincheng Du, materials science and engineering faculty researchers, are studying how changes to the structure and chemistry of solid oxide lubricants can influence their high-temperature properties. Scharf will use advanced electron microscopy and chemical spectroscopy tools housed in UNT's Center for Advanced Research and Technology to study how structural and chemical changes can improve the friction and wear resistance of these lubricants. Du will use modeling of defects and other related processes in solid lubricants. Their project, funded by a National Science Foundation grant, could help minimize the negative effects of friction and wear in jet engines.