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Joshua Knobloch
Senior Research Associate, JILA
Monday, Mar. 11 | 9:30 a.m. | AERO 111

Abstract: The discovery, integration, and optimization of nano-enhanced functional materials is of paramount importance for space exploration, energy-efficiency, and next-generation microelectronics. Nanostructures such as nanotubes, graphene, nanodiamonds, and nanoparticles are used to reinforce carbon-fiber composites or ceramics. These nanoscale hierarchical composites display superior mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties than traditional materials, enabling multifunctional or ultra-high temperature resistant materials for critical applications in aerospace structures and hypersonic vehicles. However, both discovery and optimization of these materials is challenging due to the breadth of fabrication parameters and novel transport behaviors, which highly-influence their performance. These same challenges are also critical to advanced microelectronics and renewable energy technologies––nanoscale functional properties directly determine the lifetime and efficiency of high-frequency communication devices, high-energy density batteries, and solar cells for space applications. However, a major challenge has been recently highlighted—synthesis and manufacturing capabilities have far outpaced characterization tools, precluding smart design of nano-enhanced materials and devices. Fortunately, recent advances in laser technology now allow for tabletop access to deep- and extreme-ultraviolet beams. By harnessing these advances, nanoscale thermal, mechanical and structural properties can be directly accessed to enable predictive models and more accurate synthesis and optimization.

Bio: Dr. Joshua Knobloch is a senior research associate at JILA. He received his B.S. degree in physics and mathematics from Purdue University in 2014, where he received the Purdue College of Science Most Outstanding Physics Student for three consecutive years (2012 – 2014). He then received his M.S. in 2018 and Ph.D. in 2020 from the University of Colorado Boulder. In his graduate career, he received the Semiconductor Research Corporation Education Alliance/Intel Graduate Research Fellowship (2016 – 2020) and the Student Presentation Award at TECHCON (2019). During his graduate research, he advanced understanding of nanoscale thermal transport and mechanical properties by harnessing tabletop coherent extreme ultraviolet light sources. His current research focuses on characterizing and predicting the functional properties of nanostructured materials using unique deep-ultraviolet spectroscopies for applications in aerospace composites, novel energy technologies, next-generation nanoelectronics, and new thermal management strategies. His work has been published in journals including PNAS, ACS Nano, and Nano Letters with one publication receiving a top 5% ‘attention score’ and in several news outlets including Denver7 News on ABC.

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