The materials interface configuration is extremely important in electronics reliability and thermal energy transport and its storage/conversion as the electron trapping and phonon transport through the materials interface dictates the transport efficiency and device performance. The thermal transport in heterogeneous materials systems is primarily controlled by the phonon scattering phenomena at the materials interfaces. The non-equilibrium electron state also influences this transport phenomenon. We are interested in understanding the physics of the energy transport phenomena in electronic and aerospace materials and its interfaces--geared towards designing efficient materials for reliable electronics, efficient thermal transport, and energy storage and energy conversion. The development of innovative modeling and processing approaches, integrated with appropriate characterization techniques are also of interest. Atomistic, molecular (e.g., molecular dynamics) as well as continuum mechanics modeling approaches are of interest for developing multiscale computational tools for the tailored materials design of multiple and hierarchical constituents and its nanostructured interfaces. Innovative techniques and design concepts for property measurement of interface energy transport at small scale would also complement this effort.

 

key words

Nanoelectronics; Electronics reliability; Thermal management; Thermal interface; Thermal transport; Energy storage; Heterogeneous materials; Nano constituents; Characterization; Multiscale modeling;

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral and Senior applicants