Glasses and disordered materials
Mechanics and kinetics of disordered nanomaterials
Nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes and graphene hold unlimited potential, thanks to their superior mechanical and electronic properties. Recently, these materials have been found to exist in disordered forms as well, as a counterpart to their crystalline forms. The aim of this research is to understand the fundamental state of these disordered nanomaterials and to assess their mechanical properties, which could potentially open a new field of 2D glassy nanomaterials.
Atomic tuning of mechanical properties in glasses
Mechanical properties of silicate glasses, such as the Corning gorilla glass, are strongly dependent on the atomic compositions. However, this dependence exhibits a highly non-convex and non-linear behavior. The aim of this research is to understand the effect of composition on the fracture toughness, hardness, and scratch resistance of silicate glasses. The atomic level study will be coupled with continuum level analysis to understand the origin of the permanent deformation under scratching and indentation. The ultimate goal is to develop glassy compositions that are highly resistant to scratching and indentation.
