MSE Colloquium: David Mandrus, Designing Emergent Matter: How Materials Scientists Think About New Materials

Professor, Materials Science and Engineering, Un of Tennessee Knoxville, Materials Science and Technology Division, ORNL

Abstract

Although new materials are the engine that drives much of materials science, the conceptual process by which new materials are discovered is rarely discussed. In this talk I will try to remedy this situation, and will discuss strategies for finding new materials that challenge our physical understanding. I will also discuss the role of theory in this process, stressing that new materials can be regarded as a playground for testing new theoretical ideas. Several examples will be discussed.
 

Bio

David Mandrus earned his Ph.D. in physics from Stony Brook University in 1992.  His dissertation research involved infrared spectroscopy and break-junction tunneling studies of high-temperature superconductors.  From 1992-1995 Dr. Mandrus was a postdoctoral associate at Los Alamos National Laboratory.   While at LANL, he became interested in the synthesis and crystal growth of new materials, particularly correlated electron materials.  In 1995 Dr. Mandrus joined the staff of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and in 2000 established the “Correlated Electron Materials Group” (CEMG) at ORNL.  From 2000 until 2010 Dr. Mandrus served as group leader of the CEMG. In 2010 Dr. Mandrus joined the faculty at the University of Tennessee.  Dr. Mandrus is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Physics. Dr. Mandrus uses the experimental tools of materials synthesis and crystal growth to address cutting-edge issues in materials physics.  Recent interests include: (1) discovery and characterization of new chiral ferromagnets that may display electronic liquid-crystal phases; (2) discovery and characterization of new iridates in which strong spin-orbit coupling leads to Mott-Hubbard physics; (3) mixed phase phosphate electrolytes for intermediate temperature fuel cells.  Long standing interests include: (1) discovery and characterization of new unconventional superconductors; (2) discovery and characterization of new collective phenomena in transition metal oxides, especially involving slow dynamics, (3) neutron scattering investigations of exotic magnets, and (4) new materials for thermoelectric refrigeration and power generation.

Dr. Mandrus is a Fellow of the American Physical Society since 2006 and has published roughly 300 papers that have been cited more than 10,000 times.