February 27
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12:00 PM
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1:00 PM
The Mechanics Seminar Series is a weekly seminar given by campus and visiting speakers on topics across the spectrum of mechanics research (solids, fluids, and dynamics). Professor Wonmo Kang is a professor at Arizona State University.
Presentation Title: Mechanisms Behind Enhanced Electrical and Mechanical Properties in Graphene–Metal Composites
Abstract: Graphene–metal composites are widely regarded as promising candidates for high-performance electrical conductors as well as advanced structural and functional applications, owing to graphene’s exceptional electron mobility, mechanical strength, and thermal conductivity. To leverage these attractive properties, small graphene flakes are often dispersed within a macroscopic metal matrix to form bulk composites. However, this approach intrinsically introduces discontinuous interfaces between the nanoscale carbon reinforcements and the much larger metal matrix, which hinder efficient load transfer and limit performance gains. In this regard, this talk investigates how both graphene continuity and quality influence the electrical and mechanical performance of graphene–metal composites. Using axially bi-continuous graphene–copper wires, we achieve a 41% reduction in electrical resistivity and a 450% increase in current-carrying capacity compared to pure copper. We further show that this architecture enables enhanced mechanical, thermal, and anti-oxidation performance. Notably, axially bi-continuous graphene–nickel wires break the traditional strength–ductility trade-off, achieving an exceptional combination of both. Finally, I will discuss our ongoing efforts toward high-throughput, cost-effective manufacturing of macroscopic graphene–metal composites with continuous graphene networks.
Bio: Wonmo Kang is an associate professor in the School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy at Arizona State University (ASU). He received his Ph.D. in 2012 with the Outstanding Mechanical Engineering PhD Award from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Before joining ASU, he was a research scientist at the US Naval Research Laboratory. His current research includes graphene-metal composites for multifunctional applications, in situ material characterization, nano/bio-mechanics, and NEMS/MEMS/bioMEMS. Dr. Kang has published his work in leading scientific journals including Advanced Materials, Advanced Functional Materials, Small, Nano Letters, and Acta Biomaterialia. Dr. Kang is the recipient of several awards/fellowships including the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the ASME Rising Stars of Mechanical Engineering Award, the postdoctoral fellowship from the American Society for Engineering Education, and the Leidos technical publication awards.