Walter P. Murphy Professor

BS, physical metallurgy and physics
MS, physical metallurgy New York University

PhD, physical metallurgy and physics University of Illinois

Contact Info

Seidman Research Group Website
Northwestern University Center for Atom-Probe Tomography (NUCAPT)

Interfacial phenomena on an atomic scale

     We are interested in understanding physical phenomena associated with internal interfaces and surfaces in a wide range of material systems, including metallic alloys, ceramic/metal heterostructures, so-called heavy fermion superconductors (e.g., UPt₃), and semiconductor heterostructures. We use highly sophisticated microscopy and spectroscopy to study interfaces on a subnanoscale. We also do simulations using local-density functional theory, lattice statics, Monte Carlo, and molecular dynamics simulations.

     We have studied relationships between the dislocation and atomic-scale structures of grain boundaries in binary metallic alloys, as well as solute segregation and two-dimensional phase transitions at these boundaries. We recently studied the relationships between segregation and the atomic-scale structure of ceramic/metal heterostructures, as well as the electronic properties of these interfaces, and have presented evidence for metal-induced gap states (MIGS) at {222}MgO/Cu interfaces. In our research on metallic heterophase interfaces, we are studying segregation and its effects on mechanical properties.

     We are also investigating the relationships between the physical properties (electrical resistivity, heat capacity, and thermal conductivity) of superconducting UPt₃ and point, line, and planar imperfections.

Associations and Awards

Sackler Lecturer 2011-2012, Mortimer and Raymond Sackler Institute of Advanced Studies, Tel-Aviv University

TMS Institute of Metals Lecture and the Robert Franklin Mehl Award for 2011, awarded at the 140th TMS meeting in San Diego, California, February 2011

2010-2011 IBM Faculty Award

2010 American Academy of Arts and Sciences Fellow

Fellow 2010 Materials Research Society

Structural Materials Division Symposium: Advanced Characterization and Modeling of Phase Transformations in Metals in Honor of David N. Seidman: TMS (MineralsMetalsMaterials) 2009 Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California; February 15^th to 19^th, 2009

David Turnbull Lecturer Award, December 3, 2008, more

2006, Albert Sauveur Achievement Award, ASM International

2005, ASM International Fellow

2001-2003 National Science Foundation Creativity Extension Award

2000-2001 President, International Field Emission Society

2000 Microscopy of Society of America award for Best Materials Paper appearing in Microscopy and Microanalysis

1997 Fellow of the TMS (MineralsoMetalsoMaterials)

1996 Walter P. Murphy Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University

1993 Max Planck Research Prize of the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft and the Alexander Von Humboldt Stiftung awarded jointly with the late Prof. Dr. Peter Haasen

1988 Alexander Von Humboldt Stiftung Prize

1988 Teacher of the Year Award, Materials Science & Engineering Dept., Northwestern University

1984 Fellow of the American Physical Society, Division of Condensed Matter Physics

1982 Chairman of the Physical Metallurgy Gordon Conference

1982 Member of the Böhmische Physical Society

1980-81 Lady Davis Visiting Professorship, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

1980-81 John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellow

1968-77 MITRE evaluative study of Materials Research Laboratory Programs (MTR 7764) rated my research program for the years

1968-1977 among the top twenty most highly rated major achievements sponsored by the National Science Foundation in the area of materials science.

1978 Lady Davis Visiting Professorship, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

1972-73 John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellow

1966 Robert Lansing Hardy Gold Medal of the American Institute of Metallurgical Engineers [now the TMS (MineralsoMetalsoMaterials)]

Publications

1. Z. Mao, C. K. Sudbrack, K. E. Yoon, G. Martin, and D. N. Seidman, “The Mechanism of Morphogenesis in a Phase Separating Concentrated Multi-Component Alloy.” Nature Materials 6, 210-216 (2007).
   
   
2. C. Booth-Morrison, R. D. Noebe, and D. N. Seidman, “Effects of a Tantalum Addition on the Temporal Evolution of a Model Ni-Al-Cr Superalloy During Phase Decomposition,” Acta Materialia, 57, 908-919 (2009).
   
   
3. Y. Amouyal, Z. Mao, C. Booth-Morrison, and D. N. Seidman, “On the Interplay Between Tungsten and Tantalum in Ni-Based Superalloys: An Atom-Probe Tomographic and First-Principles Study,” Applied Physics Letters, 94, 041917-1 to 041917-3 (2009).
   
   
4. P. Adusumilli, L. J. Lauhon, D. N. Seidman, C. E. Murray, O. Avayu, and Y. Rosenwaks, “Tomographic Study of Atomic-Scale Redistribution of Platinum During the Silicidation of Ni0.95Pt0.05/Si(100) thin-films" Applied Physics Letters, 94, 103113-1 to 103113-3 (2009).
   
   
5. R. A. Karnesky, D. C. Dunand, and D. N. Seidman, “Evolution of Nanoscale Precipitates in Aluminum Microalloyed with Scandium and Erbium,” Acta Materialia, 57, 4022-4031 (2009).
   
   
6. M. Mulholland and D. N. Seidman, “Multiple Dispersed Phases in a High-Strength Low-Carbon Steel (HSLC): An Atom-Probe Tomographic and Synchrotron X-Ray Diffraction Study,” Scripta Materialia, 60(11), 992-995 ( 2009).
   
   
7. P. Adusumilli, C. E. Murray, L. J. Lauhon, O. Avayu, Y. Rosenwaks, D. N. Seidman, “Three-Dimensional Atom-Probe Tomographic Studies of Nickel Monosilicide/Silicon Interfaces on a Subnanometer Scale,” ECS Transactions, 19(1), 303- 314 (2009).
   
   
8. D. N. Seidman, “On the Genesis of Nuclei and Phase Decomposition on an Atomic Scale,” Materials Research Society Bulletin, 34 (7), 537-542 (2009).
   
   
9. D. N. Seidman and K. Stiller, “An Atom-Probe Tomography Primer,” Materials Research Society Bulletin, 34 (10), 717-721 (2009).
   
   
10. M. E. Krug, A. Werber, D. C. Dunand, and D. N. Seidman, “Core-Shell Nanoscale Precipitates in Al-0.06 Sc Microalloyed with Tb, Ho, Tm or Lu,” Acta Materialia 58, 134-145 (2010).