Benjamin Hulbert Email & Phone Number

Urbana, Il, Us

• Synthesis, processing, and characterization of ceramics to measure thermal expansion and determine phase transformation behavior in several different systems of materials. Powder diffraction-based crystallographic studies of these materials required high temperatures from 25℃ to 2500℃. Inorganic materials synthesis including solid state and solution-based ceramic synthesis methods. - An analytical correction equation was proposed to fix the shift in 2θ values due to sample capillary displacements for powder diffraction experiments in transmission geometry with a flat area detector. - Structure solution of high temperature phases of the low thermal expansion materials CaZr4(PO6)4 and SrZr4(PO6)4. Solution methods included fourier difference mapping and Rietveld refinements. - Negative thermal expansion study of ZrW2O8 and HfW2O8 presenting the first, in-situ, powder x-ray diffraction measurements the thermodynamically stable temperature ranges of 1100 ℃ to ~1300 ℃. - Synthesis and crystallography study of nine rare earth di-titanates from 25℃ to approximately 1600℃ via powder x-ray diffraction with a quadrupole optical furnace. • Materials characterization has included XRD, SEM, EDS, DSC, XRF, pycnometry, high temperature in-situ synchrotron diffraction at NSLS II at Brookhaven National lab and APS at Argonne National Lab, and neutron diffraction at SNS at Oak Ridge National Lab. • Written experimental proposals for and awarded experimental time at 5 beamlines at synchrotron x-ray sources with area detectors and a neutron source for diffraction experiments• In depth work with TOPAS and large datasets of temperature series measurements and the development of Python scripts that run semi-automated sequential Rietveld refinements. • High temperatures were achieved with a quadrupole optical furnace (25℃ – 1800℃) and with aerodynamic levitation/laser heating (700℃ – 2500℃) for crystallographic studies of several high temperature ceramics.

• Ensured that safety procedures are followed within four laboratories: ceramics synthesis and processing, high temperature furnace, characterization, and thermal analysis. Trained new researchers on laboratory specific hazards, engineering controls, general work practices, personal protective equipment, and typical laboratory operations.• Developed Standard Operating Procedures, supervised day-to-day operations, and worked with the division of research safety to perform annual lab safety audits.

• Trained five students in laboratory methods and supervised semi-independent research projects.

Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Area

Taught and graded the laboratory portion of the following classes:• MSE 421 Ceramic Processing• MSE 307 Materials lab: thermoelectric effect, pyrometry, thermal stresses and strains• MSE 308 Materials lab: heat diffusion, photovoltaic energy conversionRacheff Teaching Fellowship awarded in spring 2020

• Synthesized ternary compounds of K-Sn-O to explore the phase space. The compound K2Sn3O7 has been synthesized and its unique structure solved for the first time. • Characterization of the material included x-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, and ultraviolet visible spectroscopy. It is a wide bandgap semiconductor with a bandgap of ~3eV. Rietveld refinements were carried out using TOPAS. See publication below.

Cleveland, Ohio

Thermal Energy Conversion Branch• Explored the efficacy of pyroelectric materials in energy conversion applications. • Developed a finite element analysis (FEA) model of a pyroelectric generator using COMSOL, a multiphysics FEA program. The model included all parts necessary to model the generator, including heat transfer in fluids and solids, fluid flow, and the pyroelectric effect.

Milford, Mi

• Performed failure analysis and root-cause analysis of vehicle parts using a statistical problem-solving method called Red X. • Organized and led meetings to share information and determine the next steps in the project. Collaborated closely with design release engineers, electrical engineers, warranty returns department, dealerships, and tier 1 suppliers. •Worked with various electrical/mechanical testing instruments as well as machine shop tools.

Lemont, Il

Tribology – Energy Systems Division• Investigated the effects of nanoparticle additives to oil through examining the coefficient of friction, wear, and tribofilms formed. • Laboratory work involved mixing oils with various nanoparticle additives in a glovebox, performing tribological tests, using an optical microscope, optical profilometer, and data analysis.

Kalamazoo, Michigan

• Guided the learning of college level math and physics students; assisted with coursework.

Ann Arbor, Mi

• Carried out with programming (Unix scripting, CHARMM), Excel, and MD simulations using CHARMM. • Performed Molecular Dynamics research in which several amino acids were created with variable protonation states to be used in the representations of proteins. A peptide was successfully modeled using information gathered in the research. See publication below.

Oak Ridge, Tn

• Studied the dependence of drop size on the coalescence of copper nanodroplets on a pseudo-graphitic substrate to study nanoscale motion. • Used Programming (Unix, FORTRAN), classical Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations, data analysis (Excel).

Master Of Science - Ms, Materials Science

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Physics

Graduated with honors in Physics. Minors in Math and Computer Science. Physics Departmental Student Advisor Cross Country for 3 years.