Art and science are sometimes at poles, but this is not the case in a research project described in ACS Omega. For this work, an interdisciplinary team combined scientific research, technological advances and artistic exploration to experiment with the production, properties and application of a new type of ceramic.

In recent years, scientists have added graphene oxide (GO) to ceramic slurries—consisting of particles of kaolin clay or other materials dispersed in water—to make fired ceramics more durable and resistant to thermal shock. Materials researcher Daria Andreeva and colleagues adapted this technique using ultrasound to better mix GO in kaolin suspensions. They adjusted the GO concentration and ultrasound exposure time to find the conditions that most improved the strength and heat resistance of the resulting ceramics. The team also collaborated with artist-in-residence Delia Prvački, who created works from the new ceramic material that are on display at the National University of Singapore Museum.