Frank C. Engelhart Professor of Materials Science and Engineering

BS, physics, 1977
PhD, materials engineering, 1982 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Contact Info

 

 

Thermodynamics and kinetics of phase transformations

     We are examining the effects of misfit-generated elastic stress on the dynamics of coarsening through both large-scale numerical calculations and experiments. We are focusing on the measurement of the morphological development of precipitates in three dimensions and predicting the statistically averaged properties of these systems.
      Experiments in a model solidliquid system are being used to test the theories of interfacial energy-driven coarsening. To avoid density-driven sedimentation of these solid particles, the experiments were performed on board the Space Shuttle (STS 83 and STS 94). We will continue these experiments on the International Space Station.
      We have developed a device that allows the three-dimensional morphology of a microstructure to be determined and are using it to examine the evolution of topologically complex dendritic microstructures during coarsening.
      Our work on the morphological evolution of heteroepitaxial alloy films focuses on the effects of the elastic stress generated by the lattice mismatch between the film and substrate on the formation of quantum dots and nanostructures.

Prof. Voorhees Research Group

 

Associations and Awards

Fellow, American Physical Society, Material Physics Division, 2005

Highly Cited Researcher, Institute for Scientific Information, 2002

Fellow, ASM International, 2001

Frank C. Engelhart Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, 2000

Materials Science and Engineering Teacher of the Year, 1999

National Science Foundation Creativity Extension, 1999

Outstanding Referee, Acta Materialia, 1998

ASM International Materials Science Division Research Award (Silver Medal), 1992

McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science Award for Teaching Excellence, 1992 

Acta Metallurgica et Materialia Outstanding Paper Award, 1991

Materials Science and Engineering Teacher of the Year, 1989, 1990

National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator Award, 1989

Publications

O. Shklyaev, M. J. Beck, M. Asta, M. Miksis, and P.W. Voorhees, Role of Strain-Dependent Surface Energies in Ge/Si(001) Island Formation, Phys. Rev. Lett. 94 176102, (2005).

D. Kammer and P.W. Voorhees, The Morphological Evolution of Microstructures During Coarsening, Acta Mater. 54 1549-1558 (2006).

C.J. Moore, C.M. Retford, M.J. Beck, M. Asta, M.J. Miksis and P.W. Voorhees, Orientation dependence of strained-Ge surface energies near (001): Role of dimer-vacancy lines and their interactions with steps, Phys. Rev. Lett. 96 Art. No. 126101 (2006).

J.R. Wilson, W. Kobsiriphat, R. Mendoza, H.Y. Chen, J.M. Hiller, D.J. Miller, K. Thornton P.W. Voorhees, S.B. Adler,  and S.A. Barnett, Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of a Solid-Oxide Fuel-Cell Anode, Nature Materials, 5 541-544 (2006).

R. Mendoza, K. Thornton, I. Savin and P.W. Voorhees, The Evolution of Interfacial Topology During Coarsening, Acta Mater. 54 743-750 (2006).