Prof. Choong-Shik Yoo [Washington State University, USA]

  Series Lecture I  

Title: Barochemistry in Dense Molecular Solids

Time: 10:00 - 11:00 AM, Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Place: Auditorium Room 410, Building 6, HPSTAR (Shanghai)

Host: Dr. Ho-kwang Mao

Abstract:

A large body of work in high-pressure research (both experimental and theoretical) has been largely focused on the physical and geophysical aspects of static properties, rather than on the chemical aspects of pressure-induced transformations. Yet, many novel phenomena that emerge at extreme conditions are fundamentally chemical processes; reflecting how chemical bonds break and form, how atoms and molecules organize over short- and long-range spatial extents, and how kinetics and thermodynamics govern materials stability. Furthermore, the chemistry viewpoint becomes increasingly important, as the pressure approaches 100 GPa where the compression energy rivals or exceeds strong chemical bond energies.  In this lecture, I will discuss about the basic principles governing the pressure-induced chemistry (or barochemistry) in dense solids and offer some insights into how to use these chemical concepts to develop yet been discovered novel structures and materials beyond the class of diamond and c-BN.

Biography of the Speaker:

Choong-Shik Yoo is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and in the internationally recognized WSU Institute for Shock Physics. Prior to his arrival at WSU, he worked for nearly 20 years at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory where he developed and led a large multi-disciplinary research group in High Pressure Physics. Professor Yoo received his Ph.D in Physical Chemistry in 1986 from UCLA. His research expertise is on novel materials research under extreme environments of pressure, temperature, and chemical composition. His work has utilized static and dynamic high-pressure capabilities coupled with the state-of-the-art laser spectroscopic methods and x-ray diffraction and spectroscopy at the national synchrotron facilities. Dr. Yoo’s current research studies focus on energetic materials and processes, as well as developments of novel high energy density materials, reactive materials, wear-resistive super hard materials, and novel functional nanocomposites and intermetallics. Professor Yoo twice earned the DOE awards (1995 and 2006), for Excellence in Weapons Materials Research. He currently serves as the US Regional Editor for High Pressure Research and is a member of American Chemical Society, American Physical Society, American Geophysics Union, Materials Research Society, and Three Materials Society.