BIO

Janet Meier is originally from Kansas City, Missouri, and went to The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, for her undergraduate degree in materials science and engineering. She continued at Ohio State for her PhD in materials science and engineering with Dr. Alan Luo in the Light Materials and Manufacturing Research Laboratory. At Ohio State, her research focused on cast magnesium alloy design. Janet completed her PhD in August 2022 with her dissertation entitled “Development of high-strength Mg-RE alloys with LPSO phase and β-series precipitation using a CALPHAD-based approach.” Janet joined Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in September 2022 as a postdoctoral researcher in the Alloy Behavior and Design Group in the Materials Science and Technology Division of the Physical Sciences Directorate. At ORNL, her research focuses on the design of electrically conductive Al alloys for electric vehicles. She and her collaborators use a combination of computational thermodynamics, atomistic first-principles modeling, and advanced characterization techniques to understand how processing and other elements modify the properties of alloys from atomistic to macro scales. When she is not in the lab, Janet enjoys being out in nature, observing birds, quilting, and baking. 

ABSTRACT

As the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) increases, there is a greater demand for copper conductors. Unfortunately, copper is scarce and adds substantial weight even as it meets the electrical conductor needs. Aluminum offers a promising alternative to copper due to its high electrical conductivity, lower density, and lower cost. To compete with the properties of copper, aluminum must be strengthened without lowering its electrical conductivity. This presents a challenge because the ways alloys are strengthened tend to lower their electrical conductivity. Our work utilizes Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s strengths in advanced microscopy and computational modeling to understand how the microstructure of an alloy can be optimized to balance strength and electrical conductivity. Scientists like myself are working to develop an Al-Zr-Sn alloy that utilizes nanoscale precipitates to produce significant strengthening with only a small decrease in electrical conductivity. We are confident this alloy can be optimized to replace copper in most EV applications, which could lead to a 50% weight reduction for conductor parts.