Computational Materials Group
Overview
The Computational Materials (CM) Group provides expertise in multiscale modeling, theory and simulation of materials, devices, and biosystems. Our goal is to develop new materials and biosystems for NASA’s high-performance applications.
Our approach is in the spirit of national initiatives such as the Material Genome Initiative (MGI), Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) and the NASA Vision 2040 Roadmap for Integrated, Multiscale Modeling and Simulations of Materials and Systems.
We participate in multi-disciplinary teams (chemists, physicists, material scientists, engineers) working on both experimental and computational issues. A combination of fundamental modeling, computational high-throughput screening and data science methods, e.g., machine learning, are used to find innovative solutions to NASA or national technology challenges. Our methods range from first principles, ab initio computations (e.g., density functional theory), to computational chemistry to molecular dynamics simulations to multiphysics modeling.
Applications of interest are wide ranging. Advanced energy storage systems, e.g., batteries, are a long standing focus area to support NASA’s goal in green aviation and electric aircraft development. “Beyond Li-ion” battery chemistries such as Li-Air, Li-S, etc., have been considered. Battery activities include computational chemistry of electrolyte decomposition and interfacial processes, molecular dynamics simulations of electrolytes, high-throughput screening and machine learning for novel cathode materials and electrolyte formulations, multiphysics simulations of cells and packs, etc.
Novel metal alloys are a significant focus area including shape memory alloys (actuators), Ni superalloys (high temperature applications), high entropy alloys (additive manufacturing), and magnetic systems. DFT computations, interatomic potential development and MD simulations of thermodynamic and mechanical process are pursued.
We have extensive expertise in polymer simulations and multiscale modeling for ablative materials (phenolic) and structural composites and interfaces (epoxies).
We collaborate widely with researchers at other NASA Centers, other government Agencies, universities, industry, and internationally. Discussions with researchers with common interests are welcome and encouraged.
We frequently have open positions for researchers, visitors, postdocs, and interns.
Recent Publications
“Discovery of novel Li SSE and anode coatings using interpretable machine learning and high-throughput multi-property screening”, S.J. Honrao, X. Yang, B.G. Radhahrishnan, S. Kuwata, H. Komatsu, A. Ohma, M. Sierhuis and J.W. Lawson, Sci Rep. 11, (2021), p 16484
“Molecular dynamics investigation of the structural and mechanical properties of off-stochiometric epoxy resins”, C.W. Jang, J.H. Kang, C.J. Brandenburg, F.L. Palmieri, T.B. Hudson and J.W. Lawson, ACS Applied Polymer Materials 3, (2021), p 2950
“Molecular dynamics simulations of ultrafast radiation induced melting at metal-semiconductor interfaces”, A. Ravichandran, M. Mehta, A.A. Woodworth and J.W. Lawson, J. App. Phys. 129, (2021), p 215304
“Low-temperature mechanical instabilities govern high-temperature thermodynamics in the austenite phase of shape memory alloy constituents: ab initio simulations of NiTi, PtTi, PdTi, NiZr, NiHf”, J.B. Haskins, H. Malmir, S.R. Honrao and J.W. Lawson, Acta Materialia 212, (2021), p 116872
“Anion assisted delivery of multivalent ions to inert electrochemical interfaces”, A. Baskin, J.W. Lawson and D. Prendergast, J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 12, (2021), p 4347
“Reaction of singlet oxygen with ethylene group: implications for electrolyte stability in Li-ion and Li-O2 batteries”, J.W. Mulllinax, C.W. Bauschlicher and J.W. Lawson, J. Phys. Chem. A, 125 (2021), p 2876
“First principles computational and experimental investigation of molten salt electrolytes: implications for Li-O2 batteries”, B.G. Radhakrishnan, J.B. Haskins, K.B. Knudsen, B.D. McCloskey and J.W. Lawson, J. Phys. Chem. C 125 (2021), p. 3698
“Li-O2 batteries for high specific power applications: a multiphysics simulation study”, M. Mehta, K. Knudsen, W.R. Bennett, B.D. McCloskey and J.W. Lawson, J. Power Sources 484, (2021) p 229261
“Towards realizing the potential of practical LiO2 batteries for electric aircraft”, W.R. Bennett, D. Dornbusch, M.R. Mehta, K.B. Knudsen, B.D. McCloskey and J.W. Lawson, NASA Technical Memorandum (TM)-20205010120, (2020)
“Lithium peroxide growth in Li-O2 batteries via chemical disproportionation and electrochemical mechanisms: a potential dependent ab initio study with implicit solvation”, J.B. Haskins, H. Pham, A. Khetan, V. Viswanathan and J.W. Lawson, J. Phys. Chem. C, 125 (2020), p 436
“Suppression of parasitic chemistry in Li-O2 batteries incorporating thianthrene-based proposed redox mediators”, P.L. Arrechea, K.B. Knudsen, J.W. Mullinax, J.B. Haskins, C. W. Bauschlicher, J.W. Lawson and B.D. McCloskey, ACS Appl Energy Mater 3, (2020) p 8812
“Radiative transfer in porous carbon fiber materials for thermal protection systems”, A. Gusarov, E. Poloni, V. Shklover, A. Sologubenko, J. Leuthold, S. White and J. Lawson, Int. J. of Heat and Mass Transfer 144, (2019), p 118582
“Transparent conducting oxides as cathodes in Li–O2 batteries: a first principles computational investigation”, B.G. Radhakrishnan and J.W. Lawson J. Phys. Chem. C 123:8 (2019), p 4623
“Proton abstraction from DMEn···X+ by OH–, O2–, and XO2–, for X = Li, Na, and K: implications for Li–O2 batteries”, C.W. Bauschlicher, E. Papajak, J.B. Haskins and J.W. Lawson, J. Phys. Chem. A 123:23 (2019), p 4942
“Insights into the structure and transport of the lithium, sodium, magnesium, and zinc bis(trifluoromethansulfonyl)imide salts in ionic liquids”, O. Borodin, G.A. Guinevere, A. Moretti, J.B. Haskins, J.W. Lawson, W.A. Henderson and S. Passerini, J. Phys. Chem. C 122:35 (2018), p 20108
“Polarizable molecular dynamics and experiments of 1,2-dimethoxyethane based electrolytes for Li-O2 and Na-O2 batteries: structural and transport properties”, T Liyana-Arachchi, J.B. Haskins, C. Burke, K. Diederichsen, B.D. McCloskey, J.W. Lawson, J. Phys. Chem. B 122:36 (2018), p 8548
“Suppression of martensitic transitions temperatures in NiTi by compound twins: classical and ab initio simulations”, L. Sandoval, J.B. Haskins and J.W. Lawson, Acta Materialia 154 (2018), p.182
Team
Group Lead
John W. Lawson
Group Members
Artem I. Baskin
Valery Borovikov
Shreyas J. Honrao
Chang Woon Jang
Hessam Malmir
Mohit R. Mehta
Mikhail I. Mendelev
J. Wayne Mullinax
Junsoo Park
Ashwin Ravichandran
Zhigang Wu
Nikolai Zarkevich
Students
Ayanah Cason
Jason Diaz
Eric Fonseca
John Holoubek
Hiroki Kaifu
Alumni
Juan Carlos Araque
Pedro Arrechea
Eli Baum
Eric Bucholz
Colin Burke
John Holoubek
Thilanga Liyana-Arachchi
Lenson Pellouchoud
Hieu Pham
Bala Radhakrishnan
Karun Kumar Rao
Luis Sandoval
Alex Thompson
Bethany Wu
Handan Yildirim
External Collaborators
Argonne National Lab
Army Research Lab
Clemson University
Deakin University, Australia
ETH-Zurich, Switzerland
IBM Almaden Research Center
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Nissan Silicon Valley Center
Purdue University
San Jose State University
Stanford University
University of California at Berkeley
University of Florida
University of Kentucky