Updates No.2 Jan 6th New Year!

Outline for this update (Issue 2):

A basic physics concepts and principles in nanoscale solid transport.

B  my senior design topic choice

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A. Physics on Nanoscale Thermal Transports

Content:

1. The online course Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale offered by Prof. Tim Fisher. I am half way in Week 2 lectures.
1. Lecture 1: Lattice Structure, Phonons, and Electron
1. Lattice vibration and phonon (acoustic and optical phonon, intro)
2. Free electron and band theorem (intro)
2. Lecture 2: Carrier Statistics
1. Phonon and electron density of states ( intro)

1. Statistical physics ( Thermodynamics and statistical mehcanics by Wlater Greiner Springer; Introduction to Statistical Physics, Kerson Huang, 2ed)
1. Phase space and entropy
2. Fermi, Bose and Boltzmann system and distribution (classical description, most probable distribution aspect)
3. Ensemble: phase space density and Liouville theorem, the difference of different ensembles.

1. Solid state physics (Chinese-Kun Huang, English-Charles Kittel)
1. Lattice geometry and reciprocal lattice
2. Atomic binding and Crystal

Comments:

1. I found the introduction given by Prof. Fisher is highly condensed. Therefore I have to dilute it by reading several other books. Originally, I planned to took them next term, but now, I need to learn by myself.  Mult-dimensional vacancy on physics is hard, however, since I have such experience working on two projects, I believe it would work out better later.
2.  Apparently, I am still at the entry of the nanoscale thermal transport, where I need to use the combination of quantum mechanics and classical mechanics to understand the transition. I found it interesting to study the evolution of people scientific understanding towards a specific topic. Boltzmann is great but he also has failed hypothesis like ergodic hypothesis.

B. Senior Design on Lithium-Ion Battery Nanostructures:

I reviewed the cathode and anode research progress . In order to be coherent with our lab's work in solar cell, my current focus is on Si-C anodes. The silicon has good lithiation storage ten times of current graphite anode capacity, however it suffers from pulverization caused by its 400% volume change. Carbon material has excellent mechanical flexibility that could support silicon. Also carbon served electron transport pathway to improve the conductivity. Now I am researching on basic fabrication process of current Si-C structure. A more detailed presentation is in preparation.

There are two points that I would love to note.

1. It is good to find out there are research groups in Tsinghua working on silicon and carbon anodes too, which reminds me that searching for possible cooperation is really important especially in the era of  interdisciplinary research. From most innovative researchers experiences, I believe communication and mutation would help to develop unforeseeable solutions to current challenges.
2. This piece of research may not be explorative or deep in theoretic. But considering my previous simulation and modeling work, basic experimental operation and first hand understanding of nanoscale materials would be beneficial to my future research. Also in a long term, it could help me to shorten the bridge of research and technology.