| 8/20 |
1st week of classes: No seminar |
| 8/27 |
Dr. Tiglet Besara
|
Research at the Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Materials Science |
| 9/3 |
David Magness (PAMS) |
Kinetic Monte Carlo Simulations of Atomic Layer Deposition |
| Tauhidul Islam (PAMS) |
Study of Size-controlled CoO@MnFe2O4 Core-shell Nanoparticle |
| 9/10 |
Dr. Matthew Horton
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory |
Democratizing Access to Materials Science with the Materials Project |
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Abstract: The Materials Project provides an open-access data repository of the predicted properties of over 100,000 crystalline materials, along with a variety of web apps to explore and analyze this data. The properties offered by the Materials Project are calculated using a theoretical technique called Density Functional Theory that was, historically, outside the reach of large-scale application due to its computational complexity. With the advent of high-throughput computing, it’s now possible to perform DFT calculations at scale and this capability has resulted in a shift in how materials scientists can search for and discover new materials, drastically accelerating what has traditionally been a decades-long process to find and characterize new materials, whether these are materials for batteries, solar, water splitting, optoelectronics or other applications. This talk will discuss the Materials Project, our history and latest advances, and also the ways an open-source ethos and strong community has been crucial to the success of the project and what this means for how we can most effectively do science in the future.
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| 9/17 |
Nadib Akram (PAMS) |
A Raman Study of Actinide Complex Species in Aqueous Chloride Solutions at High P-T Conditions |
| Sudha Krishnan (PAMS) |
Exploring Topological Weyl Semimetals Isostructural to YbMnBi2 and Co2MnGa |
| 9/24 |
Dr. Andrew Mason
University of Central Arkansas |
Do They Care, and Does It Matter? An Analysis of Learning Goals and Perceived Relevance of Introductory Physics to Life Science Majors |
| Abstract: Physics departments frequently have a large enrollment of life science majors in introductory physics course sequences; a strong recent topic in physics education research regards course transformations for Introductory Physics for Life Science (IPLS) after considering life science majors’ interests and aims in the course. In a study at the University of Central Arkansas, biology majors and health science majors enrolled in introductory algebra-based physics demonstrated explicit achievement goals (mastery vs. performance) and briefly discussed perceived relevance of the course material to their majors, in a short-answer feedback survey regarding the utility of a metacognitive problem-solving pre-lab exercise, as confirmed by inter-rater reliability analysis of student responses. Students’ expressed learning goals and perceived relevance (thus far, separated between students who perceived no relevance and students who found some form of relevance) were then checked against background data and against other common pre-post quantitative measurements of students’ conceptual understanding and attitudes towards learning physics. Results indicate that both achievement goals and perceived relevance are factors with regard to attitudinal pre-post shifts towards learning physics. Discussion of the results include limitations of the feedback survey and ramifications upon future plans for IPLS course design. |
| 10/1 |
Dr. Jessica Krogstad
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign |
Exploring the Potential of Concentrated Point Defects: Their Role in Mass Transport, Microstructural Evolution and Material Functionality |
| Abstract: Point defects are ubiquitous within materials. In many cases these defects contribute to useful material functionality but in excess they can also lead to degradation. Here we present several vignettes in which concentrated populations of point defects interact with microstructural features resulting in new perspectives on phase transformations and diffusion kinetics. We will approach this discussion from two angles: material systems wherein the excessive point defect population predominantly arises through materials synthesis choices and the other in which point defects are introduced via bombardment of an already crystalline system. In the former, the evolution of defects are driven by both intrinsic materials properties such as the stacking fault energy and extrinsic parameters such as substrate temperature and plasma energy. In the later, the crystalline lattice must respond and adapt to the flux of defects. However, in both cases, when the resulting nonequilibrium materials are allowed to relax, they do so in unexpected ways. We will present these observation as well as the broader potential of nonequilibrium point defect populations in understanding microstructural evolution, mass transport and material functionality. |
| 10/8 |
Fall holiday: No seminar |
| 10/15 |
Dr. Paul Canfield
Ames National Laboratory &
Iowa State University
|
Cooking, Fishing and Jogging through Phase Space: A Practical Guide to Discovering and Understanding New Materials |
Abstract: The design, discovery, characterization and control of novel materials is perhaps the most important research area for humanity as it moves into the 21st century. A myriad of societal problems concerning energy, clean water and air, and medicine all need to be solved by the discovery of new compounds with dramatically improved, or even new, properties. The search for such materials requires a blending of skills and mind sets that, traditionally, have been segregated into different academic disciplines: physics, chemistry, metallurgy, materials science. In this colloquium I will outline the basic philosophy and techniques that we use to search for novel materials. These include a combination of intuition, experience, compulsive optimism and a desire to share discovery.
In the second half of the lecture, the specific case of superconductivity will be used as an example of one such search. Over the past couple of decades a growing sense of where and even how to search for new superconductors has been developing, with the discoveries of MgB2 and the FeAs based materials providing, at least for me, clear guidance. |
| 10/22 |
Dr. Dilpuneet Aidhy
University of Wyoming |
Properties of Concentrated Alloys Predicted from Atomistic Calculations and Machine Learning |
| Abstract: Concentrated alloys, including high entropy alloys (HEAs), consist of multiple principal elements that are randomly distributed on a crystal lattice. The random distribution of elements leads to a varying energy landscape at each atomic site. Consequently, large variations in various types of defect energies including point defects and stacking faults is commonly observed in HEAs. Statistically capturing the variation requires performing large number of density functional theory calculations. The challenge is compounded due to the exponentially large number of compositions that are possible in HEAs. We solve the problem by leveraging machine learning tools where the defect energies computed from binary alloys are used to train the models to predict energies in multi-element alloys. We demonstrate accurate predictions of defect energies in Ni-based HEAs. A major benefit of this approach is that once the binary database is built and the model is trained, defect energies can be easily predicted thereby bypassing the need to perform large number of calculations every time a new composition is discovered. |
| 10/29 |
Abiodun Odusanya (PAMS) |
TBA |
| Sajal Islam (PAMS) |
TBA |
| 11/5 |
Alin Niraula (PAMS) |
TBA |
| Abu Zobair (PAMS) |
TBA |
| 11/12 |
Dr. Alannah Hallas
University of British Columbia |
TBA |
| 11/19 |
Kwabena Asante Boahen (PAMS) |
TBA |
| Bikash Timalsina (PAMS) |
TBA |
| 11/26 |
Thanksgiving holiday; No seminar |
| 12/3 |
Dr. Catherine Espaillat
Boston University |
TBA |
| 12/10 |
Finals week: No seminar |
