Graduate Student Position in Nanoscale Thermal Transport
Understanding Heat Conduction across Mixed-Dimensional Heterojunctions
Grain boundaries (GBs) and interfaces are critical microstructural junctions that control the performance of electronic and energy materials. For example, in thermoelectric materials, GBs promote the scattering of heat-carrying phonons, leading to reduced thermal conductivity and enhanced performance. The aim of this project is to understand the microscopic effects of interfaces on heat flow, particularly at micro- and nanoscale distances on the order of the phonon mean free path (MFP) where the impact of GB structure, mixed-dimensional components (0D- fullerenes, 2D- GBs, films, interface layers, 3D- bulk), strain, and chemical composition on phonon propagation dominate transport properties. To address these aims, the Balogun Research Group has opened a new position for a Ph.D. student. The position will focus on a combination of atomistic simulation of nanoscale heat transport, high-resolution microstructural characterization, and multiscale thermal property measurements and imaging.
The selected student will work co-advised by Prof. Balogun in the Mechanical Engineering Department and Prof. Jeffrey Snyder in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Northwestern University. The student will learn different computational methods (e.g. EMD, NEMD, and phonon BTE) and conduct thermal transport measurements on layered Van der Waals heterostructures and polycrystalline materials, using the frequency domain thermoreflectance, optothermal Raman spectroscopy, and Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy methods. Other techniques including electron backscatter diffraction, electron, optical, and scanning probe microscopy will be used for characterization of the microstructure of samples.
If you are interested in the position, please contact Prof. Balogun by email at o-balogun@northwestern.edu to arrange a follow-up meeting.