Zhang Nanometal Group

Research Highlights

In-situ radiation (TEM)

Through collaborations with Sandia, Argonne and Los Alamos DOE National Labs, we are able to explore the live radiation response of various materials in the TEM; this enables the scientific exploration of defect response to radiation
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2019.02.046

In-situ Micropillar compression (SEM)

Using a Hysitron PI-88 indenter setup, we are able to probe the mechanical properties of micro-scale samples in-situ in the SEM; a wide range of materials can be fabricated using focused ion beam (FIB)
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8NR05139A

In-situ nanoindentation (TEM)

Using a nanoindenter in the TEM, we can further explore mechanics at the nanoscale in-situ in the TEM; this enables the study of defect interactions and phase transformations
https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms5864/#Sec12

Opening for graduate students (2024)

We need several Ph.D. graduate students in the following areas:

1) additive manufacturing of metallic

2) sintering and nanomechanics of ceramic materials

3) nanomechanics of metallic and ceramic coatings

Also if you are a domestic minority student, there are also some fellowship opportunities.

Please contact Prof. Zhang (xzhang98@purdue.edu) directly if you have interest or questions. Thank you.

Chao is in the news!

Zhongxia is in the news!

Recently installed SLM 125 selective laser melter!

We have recently installed an SLM 125 selective laser melter enabling the exploration of metal additive manufacturing! This video demonstrates the selective laser melting of 316 stainless steel.

Qiang and Sichuang are in the news!

New research yields super-strong aluminum alloy - January 25th, 2018
- - Xue, S., Fan, Z., Lawal, O.B. et al. High-velocity projectile impact induced 9R phase in ultrafine-grained aluminium. Nat Commun 8, 1653 (2017).
  - Li, Q., Xue, S., Wang, J., Shao, S., Kwong, A. H., Giwa, A., ... & Wang, H. (2018). High‐Strength Nanotwinned Al Alloys with 9R Phase. Advanced Materials, 30(11), 1704629.

Selected Recent Publications

Yang, B., Sánchez-Jiménez, P.E., Niu, T., Sun, T., Shang, Z., Cho, J., Perejón, A., Shen, C., Pérez-Maqueda, L.A., Tsakalakos, T. and Wang, H., & Zhang, X. (2024). In situ study on enhanced plastic deformability of Lanthanum-doped Bismuth ferrite processed by flash sintering. Journal of the European Ceramic Society. 44(6), 3985-3994
Richter, N. A., B. Yang, J. P. Barnard, T. Niu, X. Sheng, D. Shaw, M. Watanabe, Wang, H., & Zhang, X. (2023). Significant texture and wear resistance improvement of TiN coatings using pulsed DC magnetron sputtering. Applied Surface Science. 635, 157709.
Shang, Z., Sun, T., Ding, J., Richter, N.A., Heckman, N.M., White, B.C., Boyce, B.L., Hattar, K., Wang, H. and Zhang, X., (2023). Gradient nanostructured steel with superior tensile plasticity. Science Advances, 9(22), p.eadd9780.
Richter, N.A., Zhang, Y.F., Gong, M., Niu, T., Yang, B., Xue, S., Wang, J., Wang, H., & Zhang, X. (2023). Solute synergy induced thermal stability of high-strength nanotwinned Al-Co-Zr alloys. Materials Science and Engineering: A. 862(18), 144477.
Cho, J., Yang, B., Shen, C., Wang, H., & Zhang, X. (2023). Micromechanical properties and microstructure evolution of magnesia partially stabilized zirconia prepared by spark plasma sintering. Journal of the European Ceramic Society. 43(3), 1098-1107.
Sun, T., Niu, T., Shang, Z., Chen, W.Y., Li, M., Wang, H., & Zhang, X. (2023). An in-situ study on the effect of grain boundaries on helium bubble formation in dual beam irradiated FeCrAl alloy. Acta Materialia. 254(15), 118613.
Niu, T., Sun, T., Shang, Z., Zhang, Y.F., He, Z., Chen, W.Y, Li, M., Wang, H., & Zhang, X. (2023). Helium in Cu-Ag-Fe triphase immiscible nanocomposites: An in situ sequential dual beam TEM study. Journal of Nuclear Materials. 574, 154153.
Nasim, M., Rayaprolu, S., Niu, T., Fan, C., Shang, Z., Li, J., Wang, H., El-Azab, A., Xue, Y., & Zhang, X. (2023). Unraveling the size fluctuation and shrinkage of nanovoids during in-situ radiation of Cu by automatic pattern recognition and phase field simulation. Journal of Nuclear Materials. 574, 154189.
Shen, C., Niu, T., Yang, B., Cho, J., Shang, Z., Sun, T., Shang, A., Garcia, R.E., Wang, H., & Zhang, X. (2023). Micromechanical properties and microstructures of AC and DC flash-sintered alumina. Materials Science and Engineering: A, 866(23), 144631.
Niu, T., Rayaprolu, S., Shang, Z., Sun, T., Fan, C., Zhang, Y.F., Shen, C., Nasim, M.D., Chen, W.Y., Li, M., Xue, Y., Wang, H., & Zhang, X. (2022). In-situ study on heavy ion irradiation induced microstructure evolution in single crystal Cu with nanovoids at elevated temperature. Materials Today Communications, 33, 104418.
Richter, N.A., Gong, M., Zhang, Y., Niu, T., Yang, B., Wang, J., Wang, H., & Zhang, X. (2022). Exploring the deformation behavior of nanotwinned Al–Zr alloy via in situ compression. Journal of Applied Physics, 132, 065104.
Stegman, B.T., Yang, B., Shang, Z., Ding, J., Sun, T., Lopez, J., Jarosinski, W., Wang, H., & Zhang, X. (2022). Reactive introduction of oxide nanoparticles in additively manufactured 718 Ni alloys with improved high temperature performance. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 920(5), 165846.
Yang, B., Shang, Z., Phuah. X.L., Cho, J., Wang, H., & Zhang, X. (2022). Effects of electric field on microstructure evolution and defect formation in flash-sintered TiO2. Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 42(13), 6040-6047.
Zhang, YF., Niu, T., Richter, N.A., Sun, T., Li, N., Wang, H., & Zhang, X. (2022). Tribological behaviors of nanotwinned Al alloys. Applied Surface Science. 600, 154108.
Shang, Z., Niu, T., Sun, T., Xue, S., Fan, C., Chen, WY., Li, M., Wang, H., & Zhang, X. (2022). In-situ study on radiation response of a nanotwinned steel. Scripta Materialia, 220, 114920.
Yang, B., Phuah, X. L., Shang, Z., Sheng, X., Wang, H., & Zhang, X. (2022). Effects of incubation on microstructure gradient in flash-sintered TiO2. Scripta Materialia, 207, 114270.
Sun, T., Cho, J., Shang, Z., Niu, T., Ding, J., Wang, J., Wang, H. & Zhang, X. (2022). Deformation mechanism in nanolaminate FeCrAl alloys by in situ micromechanical strain rate jump tests at elevated temperatures. Scripta Materialia, 215, 114698.
Yang, B., Shang, Z., Ding, J., Lopez, J., Jarosinski, W., Sun, T., Richter, N., Zhang, Y., Wang, H. & Zhang, X. (2021). Investigation of strengthening mechanisms in an additively manufactured Haynes 230 alloy. Acta Materialia, 117404.
Yang, B., Cho, J., Phuah, X. L., Wang, H., & Zhang, X. (2021). Flash sintering of additively manufactured 3YSZ gears. Journal of the American Ceramic Society.
Richter, N. A., Zhang, Y. F., Xie, D. Y., Su, R., Li, Q., Xue, S., ... & Zhang, X. (2021). Microstructural evolution of nanotwinned Al-Zr alloy with significant 9R phase. Materials Research Letters, 9(2), 91-98.
Xue, S. C., Zhang, Y. F., Li, Q., Ding, J., Wang, H., & Zhang, X. (2021). Tailoring the formation of twins in Al by introducing epitaxial layer interfaces. Scripta Materialia, 192, 1-6.
Niu, T., Zhang, Y., Cho, J., Li, J., Wang, H., & Zhang, X. (2021). Thermal stability of immiscible Cu-Ag/Fe triphase multilayers with triple junctions. Acta Materialia, 208, 116679.
Sun, T., Shang, Z., Cho, J., Ding, J., Niu, T., Zhang, Y., Yang, B., Xie, D., Wang, J., Wang, H. & Zhang, X. (2021). Ultra-fine-grained and gradient FeCrAl alloys with outstanding work hardening capability. Acta Materialia, 117049.
Ding, J., Xue, S., Shang, Z., Li, J., Zhang, Y., Su, R., ... & Zhang, X. (2021). Characterization of precipitation in gradient Inconel 718 superalloy. Materials Science and Engineering: A, 804, 140718.
Ding, J., Zhang, Y., Niu, T., Shang, Z., Xue, S., Yang, B., ... & Zhang, X. (2021). Thermal Stability of Nanocrystalline Gradient Inconel 718 Alloy. Crystals, 11(1), 53.
Zhang, D., Lu, P., Misra, S., Wissel, A., He, Z., Qi, Z., ... & Wang, H. (2021). Design of 3D Oxide–Metal Hybrid Metamaterial for Tailorable Light–Matter Interactions in Visible and Near‐Infrared Region. Advanced Optical Materials, 9(1), 2001154.
Shang, Z., Fan, C., Ding, J., Xue, S., Gabriel, A., Shao, L., ... & Zhang, X. (2021). Heavy ion irradiation response of an additively manufactured 316LN stainless steel. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 546, 152745.
Li, Q., Shang, Z., Sun, X., Fan, C., Su, R., Richter, N. A., ... & Zhang, X. (2021). High-strength and tunable plasticity in sputtered Al–Cr alloys with multistage phase transformations. International Journal of Plasticity, 137, 102915.
Fan, C., Annadanam, R. G. S., Shang, Z., Li, J., Li, M., Wang, H., ... & Zhang, X. (2020). Irradiation induced void spheroidization, shrinkage and migration in Cu at elevated temperatures: An in situ study. Acta Materialia, 201, 504-516.
Su, R., Neffati, D., Li, Q., Xue, S., Fan, C., Cho, J., ... & Zhang, X. (2021). Ultra-high strength and plasticity mediated by partial dislocations and defect networks: Part II: Layer thickness effect. Acta Materialia, 204, 116494.
Li, Q., Xie, D., Shang, Z., Sun, X., Cho, J., Zhang, Y., ... & Zhang, X. (2020). Coupled solute effects enable anomalous high-temperature strength and stability in nanotwinned Al alloys. Acta Materialia, 200, 378-388.
Zhang, Y. F., Su, R., Xie, D. Y., Niu, T. J., Xue, S., Li, Q., ... & Zhang, X. (2020). Design of super-strong and thermally stable nanotwinned Al alloys via solute synergy. Nanoscale, 12(39), 20491-20505.
Cho, J., Phuah, X. L., Li, J., Shang, Z., Wang, H., Charalambous, H., ... & Zhang, X. Temperature effect on mechanical response of flash-sintered ZnO by in-situ compression tests. Acta Materialia, (2020).
T. Niu, J. Li, Y. Zhang, J. Cho, J. Ding, R. Su, S. Xue, C. Fan, Z. Shang, D. Chen, Y. Wang, H. Wang, and X. Zhang. In-situ Studies on the Mechanical Properties of He Ion Irradiated Nanotwinned Ag. Journal of Nuclear Materials, (2020) 152392.
Y.F. Zhang, R. Su, T. J. Niu, N. A. Richter, S. Xue, Q. Li, Jie Ding, Bo Yang, H. Wang, and X. Zhang. Thermal stability and deformability of annealed nanotwinned Al/Ti multilayers. Scripta Materialia 186 (2020): 219-224.
Y.F. Zhang, Qiang Li, M. Gong, S. Xue, J. Ding, Jin Li, J. Cho et al. Deformation behavior and phase transformation of nanotwinned Al/Ti multilayers. Applied Surface Science (2020): 146776.
Cho, Jaehun, Yiyu Li, Zhongxia Shang, Jin Li, Qiang Li, Haiyan Wang, Yiquan Wu, and Xinghang Zhang. Extrinsic size dependent plastic deformability of ZnS micropillars. Materials Science and Engineering: A (2020): 139706.
Shang, Z., Jie Ding, C. Fan, D. Chen, Jin Li, Y. Zhang, Yongqiang Wang, H. Wang, and X. Zhang. He ion irradiation response of a gradient T91 steel. Acta Materialia (2020).
Ding, Jie, Z. Shang, Y. F. Zhang, R. Su, Jin Li, H. Wang, and X. Zhang. Tailoring the thermal stability of nanocrystalline Ni alloy by thick grain boundaries. Scripta Materialia 182 (2020): 21-26.
Ding, Jie, Z. Shang, Jin Li, H. Wang, and X. Zhang. Microstructure and tensile behavior of nanostructured gradient TWIP steel. Materials Science and Engineering: A (2020): 139346.
Su, Ruizhe, Dajla Neffati, Qiang Li, Sichuang Xue, Jaehun Cho, Jin Li, Jie Ding et al. Ultra-high strength and plasticity mediated by partial dislocations and defect networks: Part I: Texture effect. Acta Materialia 185 (2020): 181-192.
Qiang Li, Sichuang Xue, Patrick Price, Xing Sun, Jie Ding, Zhongxia Shang, Zhe Fan et al. Hierarchical nanotwins in single-crystal-like nickel with high strength and corrosion resistance produced via a hybrid technique. Nanoscale 12, no. 3 (2020): 1356-1365.
Li, Qiang, Sichuang Xue, Yifan Zhang, Xing Sun, Haiyan Wang, and Xinghang Zhang. Plastic anisotropy and tension-compression asymmetry in nanotwinned Al–Fe alloys: An in-situ micromechanical investigation. International Journal of Plasticity (2020): 102760.
Z Shang, C Fan, S Xue, Jie Ding, Jin Li, T Voisin, YM Wang, H Wang, X Zhang, Response of solidification cellular structures in additively manufactured 316 stainless steel to heavy ion irradiation: an in situ study, Materials Research Letters, 7 (2019) 290-297
S. Xue, Q. Li, D.Y. Xie, Y.F. Zhang, Han Wang, Haiyan Wang, J. Wang, and X. Zhang, High strength, deformable nanotwinned Al-Co alloys, Materials Research Letters, 7 (2019) 33-39.
Cuncai Fan, Qiang Li, Jie Ding, Yanxiang Liang, Zhongxia Shang, Jin Li, Ruizhe Su, Jaehun Cho, Di Chen, Yongqiang Wang, Jian Wang, Haiyan Wang, Xinghang Zhang, Helium irradiation induced ultra-high strength nanotwinned Cu with nanovoids, Acta Materialia 177 (2019) 107-120.
Jaehun Cho, Jin Li, Han Wang, Qiang Li, Zhe Fan, A.K. Mukherjee, W. Rheinheimer, Haiyan Wang & X. Zhang, Study of deformation mechanisms in flash-sintered yttria-stabilized zirconia by in-situ micromechanical testing at elevated temperatures, Materials Research Letters, 7 (2019) 194-202,
Jaehun Cho, Jin Li, Z. Shang, Jack M. Lopez, William J. Jarosinski, M.M. Gentleman, Vaishak Viswanathan, S. Xue, H. Wang, X. Zhang, Comparison of temperature dependent deformation mechanisms of 8YSZ thermal barrier coatings prepared by air-plasma-spray and D-gun thermal spray: an in situ study, Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 39 (2019) 3120-3128.
Cuncai Fan, Dongyue Xie, Jin Li, Zhongxia Shang, Youxing Chen, Sichuang Xue, Jian Wang, Meimei Li, Anter El-Azab, Haiyan Wang, Xinghang Zhang, 9R phase enabled superior radiation stability of nanotwinned Cu alloys via in situ radiation at elevated temperature, Acta Materialia, 167 (2019) 248-256.
Z Shang, Jie Ding, C Fan, M Song, Jin Li, Q Li, S Xue, KT Hartwig, X Zhang, Tailoring the strength and ductility of T91 steel by partial tempering treatment, Acta Materialia 169 (2019) 209-224.
Li, Jin, Jaehun Cho, Jie Ding, Harry Charalambous, Sichuang Xue, Han Wang, Xin Li Phuah et al. Nanoscale stacking fault–assisted room temperature plasticity in flash-sintered TiO2. Science advances, 5, no. 9 (2019).
Su, Ruizhe, Dajla Neffati, Jaehun Cho, Qiang Li, Jie Ding, Haiyan Wang, Yashashree Kulkarni, and Xinghang Zhang. Phase transformation induced plasticity in high-strength hexagonal close packed Co with stacking faults. Scripta Materialia, 173 (2019): 32-36.