Aluminum alloys strengthened with coherent (L1<sub>2</sub>), nanosize Al<sub>3</sub>Sc precipitates may be used as structural materials at elevated temperatures. They are creep resistant at 300°C and exhibit a threshold stress, below which creep is not measurable. Introducing ternary alloying additions, such as rare-earth elements (RE=Y, Dy, Er), that segregate within Al<sub>3</sub>Sc...
Microkinetic modeling is a powerful tool for creating dynamic and quantitative descriptions of complex systems. These detailed mechanistic models compliment experimental techniques and provide an ability to achieve deeper insights into chemical processes where numerous intermediates are highly reactive and difficult to quantify in the laboratory. This thesis discusses the...
In recent years, research has expanded the uses of triblock copolymer gels to a wide variety of applications including everything from ceramics processing to regenerative medicine and drug delivery. The research presented in this dissertation focuses on a physically crosslinked, block copolymers gel system in a selective solvent. This system...
Dimensionally constrained material systems are at the forefront of current materials research because of their novel and often enhanced physical, chemical and biological properties. The dimensionality effects are pervasive through different classes of materials including ceramics, metals and polymers. Often times dimensionality effects are manifested as internal structure variations in...
In this work, the processing of the superconductor MgB<sub>2</sub> was studied to create a fundamental scientific background for the production of superconducting composite wires. The synthesis of MgB<sub>2</sub> from Mg and B powders was investigated in situ to determine reaction rates and kinetic parameters for the application of powder-in-tube technology...
Recent assessment of material property requirements for blast resistant applications, especially for the naval ship hulls, has defined the need to design steels with high stretch ductility and fragment penetration resistance, along with high strength and adequate toughness. Using a system based computational materials design approach, two series of austenitic...
Living organisms undergo morphogenesis as they develop and change shape to fit their evolved niche in natural ecosystems. The biological processes underlying morphogenesis involve sophisticated feedback loops between spatiotemporal release of morphogenic molecules that diffuse and signal cell differentiation, as well as contextual interaction with the physical surroundings of the...
To accelerate the implementation of technologies enabled by two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials, the human health and environmental implications of these materials need to be addressed. Fundamental studies which elucidate the mechanisms of toxicity and environmental fate will allow for the safer design of these materials and promote their widespread use. This...
Developing low-cost, scalable, high-efficiency photovoltaic materials is an important technological challenge because of the projected increase in global energy consumption in coming years, the environmental cost of carbon emissions, and the widespread availability of solar energy. This dissertation contains three studies on the development of novel hybrid materials as photovoltaic...
In support of a scientific foundation for the predictive design of composition and processing of quench and partition (Q&P) martensite/austenite TRIP steels, theory of coupled diffusional/displacive transformation is experimentally calibrated to control austenite carbon content and its associated mechanical stability. Under paraequilibrium constraint, the calibration quantifies an effective BCC stored...