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  1. Abstract

    The discovery of emergent phenomena in 2D materials has sparked substantial research efforts in the materials community. A significant experimental challenge for this field is exerting atomistic control over the structure and composition of the constituent 2D layers and understanding how the interactions between layers drive both structure and properties. While no segregation for single bilayers was observed, segregation of Pb to the surface of three bilayer thick PbSe–SnSe alloy layers was discovered within [(PbxSn1−xSe)1+δ]n(TiSe2)1heterostructures using electron microscopy. This segregation is thermodynamically favored to occur when PbxSn1−xSe layers are interdigitated with TiSe2monolayers. DFT calculations indicate that the observed segregation depends on what is adjacent to the PbxSn1−xSe layers. The interplay between interface‐ and volume‐free energies controls both the structure and composition of the constituent layers, which can be tuned using layer thickness.

     
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  2. Abstract

    The role of interfacial nonidealities and disorder on thermal transport across interfaces is traditionally assumed to add resistance to heat transfer, decreasing the thermal boundary conductance (TBC). However, recent computational studies have suggested that interfacial defects can enhance this thermal boundary conductance through the emergence of unique vibrational modes intrinsic to the material interface and defect atoms, a finding that contradicts traditional theory and conventional understanding. By manipulating the local heat flux of atomic vibrations that comprise these interfacial modes, in principle, the TBC can be increased. In this work, experimental evidence is provided that interfacial defects can enhance the TBC across interfaces through the emergence of unique high‐frequency vibrational modes that arise from atomic mass defects at the interface with relatively small masses. Ultrahigh TBC is demonstrated at amorphous SiOC:H/SiC:H interfaces, approaching 1 GW m−2K−1and are further increased through the introduction of nitrogen defects. The fact that disordered interfaces can exhibit such high conductances, which can be further increased with additional defects, offers a unique direction to manipulate heat transfer across materials with high densities of interfaces by controlling and enhancing interfacial thermal transport.

     
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