Women in Materials Science & Engineering Keynote Talk

Wednesday, May 11
7:00 am – 9:00 am
Hilton Hawaiian Village, Rainbow Suite & Patio, Rainbow 1,2,3

Men and women of materials science were invited to attend this discussion and complimentary breakfast. 

Seung Min Jane Han
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)

Metal-Graphene Nanolayered Composite and Career Path in the Field of Nanomechanics

Nanoscale metal-graphene nanolayered composite is known to have ultra high strength due to its ability to effectively block dislocations from penetrating through the metal-graphene interface. The same graphene interface can simultaneously serve as a barrier interface for deflecting the fatigue cracks that are generated under cyclic bendings. Cu-graphene composite with repeat layer spacing of 100 nm indicated ~5 times enhancement in robustness against fatigue induced damage in comparison to the conventional Cu only thin film. Fatigue induced cracks that are generated within the Cu layer were stopped by the graphene interface, which was confirmed using transmission electron microscopy images acquired ex-situ as well as during in-situ tensile test. Molecular dynamics simulations for uniaxial tension of Cu-graphene showed limited accumulation of dislocations at the film/substrate interface, which makes the fatigue induced crack formation and propagation through thickness of the film difficult in this materials system. Robustness against bending fatigue-induced damage makes this material well-suited for the flexible electrode application, and methods for enhancing the scalability of fabrication were also discussed. In this keynote talk at the Women’s Breakfast, Han discussed the career path that she has taken in the field of nanomechanics and shared her experiences as a Meeting Chair for the 2021 MRS Spring Meeting.

About Seung Min Jane Han

Seung Min Jane Han is a professor in the Department of Material Science and Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). She obtained her PhD degree in materials science and engineering in 2006 at Stanford University and served as an acting assistant professor at Stanford before joining KAIST in 2010. Her research group focuses on understanding of the mechanical behavior of materials at the nanoscale with the emphasis on the development of nanocomposites for high strength, light weight structural applications as well as for energy device applications with enhanced reliability. One specific area of her expertise is in the high strength, fatigue tolerant, metal-graphene nanolayered composite for stretchable interconnect applications.

Han is a member of the Young Korean Academy of Science and Technology and a recipient of the Young Investigator Award from Korean Institute of Metals and Materials. Han has been involved in the organization of several international conferences on materials research including her recent role as a meeting chair for the 2021 MRS Spring Meeting. She currently serves as a board member of MRS Bulletin and Electronic Materials Letters and also serves in many leadership positions in the Korean Institute of Metals and Materials.