Education

Research Description

Dr. Liu leads an energy conversion, storage, and management research group focusing on developing computational and experimental tools for understanding nanoscale thermal transport, probing new transport phenomena in micro/nano-scale structures, and applying the results to design thermal management and energy conversion/storage systems with nano-engineered functional materials. He is currently working on (1) developing ultrafast laser-based pump-probe system for characterizing thermal and elastic properties of materials (e.g. TDTR, TRMOKE, Raman); (2) developing numerical simulation tools for understanding energy transport mechanisms in soft matters and hybrid materials (e.g. moledular dynamics, density functional theory, lattice dynamics); (3) establishing novel functional thermal materials, especially soft materials and hybrid materials. Those materials serve as elementary building blocks for thermal management and energy conversion/storage devices and systems with enhanced performance.

Publications

Strain effects on the anisotropic thermal transport in crystalline polyethylene

He, J. X., Kim, K., Wang, Y. C., & Liu, J. (2018), Applied Physics Letters, 112(5).

Solution-processed Cu2Se nanocrystal films with bulk-like thermoelectric performance

Forster, J. D., Lynch, J. J., Coates, N. E., Liu, J., Jang, H. J., Zaia, E., Gordon, M. P., Szybowski, M., Sahu, A., Cahill, D. G., & Urban, J. J. (2017), Scientific Reports, 7.

Solution-processed Cu2Se nanocrystal films with bulk-like thermoelectric performance

Forster, J. D., Lynch, J. J., Coates, N. E., Liu, J., Jang, H. J., Zaia, E., Gordon, M. P., Szybowski, M., Sahu, A., Cahill, D. G., & Urban, J. J. (2017), Scientific Reports, 7.

Thermoelectric transport in hybrid materials incorporating metallic nanowires in polymer matrix

Liu, B., Lu, T. Y., Wang, B., Liu, J., Nakayama, T., Zhou, J., & Li, B. W. (2017), Applied Physics Letters, 110(11).

Analytical and numerical investigation on a new compact thermoelectric generator

Ming, T. Z., Yang, W., Huang, X. M., Wu, Y. J., Li, X. H., & Liu, J. (2017), Energy Conversion and Management, 132, 261-271.

Tuning thermal conductivity in molybdenum disulfide by electrochemical intercalation

Zhu, G. H., Liu, J., Zheng, Q. Y., Zhang, R. G., Li, D. Y., Banerjee, D., & Cahill, D. G. (2016), Nature Communications, 7.

Anisotropic thermal transport in thermoelectric composites of conjugated polyelectrolytes/single-walled carbon nanotubes

Mai, C. K., Liu, J., Evans, C. M., Segalman, R. A., Chabinyc, M. L., Gahill, D. G., & Bazan, G. C. (2016), Macromolecules, 49(13), 4957-4963.

Thermal conductivity in the radial direction of deformed polymer fibers

Lu, Y., Liu, J., Xie, X., & Cahill, D. G. (2016), ACS Macro Letters, 5(6), 646-650.

Electrochemical effects in thermoelectric polymers

Chang, W. B., Fang, H. Y., Liu, J., Evans, C. M., Russ, B., Popere, B. C., Patel, S. N., Chabinyc, M. L., & Segalman, R. A. (2016), ACS Macro Letters, 5(4), 455-459.

Electrochemical effects in thermoelectric polymers

Chang W., Fang H., Liu J., Evans C., Russ B., Popere B., Patel S., Chabinyc M., & Segalman R. (2016), ACS Macro Letters, 5, 455-459.

View all publications via NC State Libraries

Grants

Fundamental Studies on the Thermal Spin-Transfer-Torque: Towards the Next Generation Nonvolatile Memory for Space Exploration

NCSU NC Space Grant Consortium(9/15/18 - 4/15/19)

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Fundamental Studies on the Thermal Spin-Transfer-Torque: Towards the Next Generation Nonvolatile Memory for Space Exploration

Sponsor: NCSU NC Space Grant Consortium

Start Date: 9/15/18

End Date: 4/15/19

Abstract

The space exploration capability, especially for imaging missions, greatly depends on the performance of onboard memory system. The next-generation memory chip for space missions requires larger data capacity and higher data density with lower power consumption and shorter access time. One promising candidate is the spin-transfer-torque (STT) based spintronic memory device. The objective of this program is to: (1) experimentally study the mechanism of the novel thermal-induced STT and demonstrate the ability to locally manipulate a memory bit; (2) train undergraduate and graduate students with the fundamental knowledge and technical skills in this area; and (3) collect preliminary experimental data for NASA fellowship and grants.

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