College of Charleston

School of Sciences & Mathematics

Department of Physics & Astronomy

Colloquium Thursday, December 03, 2009, 12:15 p.m., SCIC 126

Materials Research at Clemson for Eco-friendly Energy Generation, Storage and Delivery

Dr. Jian He

Clemson University

 

Abstract: The demand for eco-friendly energy generation, storage and delivery has led to regimes of materials research of both fundamental and technical importance, including the study of thermoelectric materials and high Tc superconducting cuprates. Despite the differences in the systems of interest and the tools of investigation (i.e., why and how), the common goal of materials research is to understand the structure-property correlation via materials synthesis, preparation and characterization. In this colloquium I will address 3 major themes: (1) the quest for high figure of merit thermoelectric materials in the past decade, especially the emerging nanostructured thermoelectric materials; (2) the study of complicated magnetism-superconductivity phase diagrams of high Tc superconducting cuprates; and (3) what undergraduate and graduate students can learn from and contribute to these studies. Most examples are taken from the ongoing efforts on the campus of Clemson University.

 

All interested persons are cordially invited to attend. Refreshments will be provided.