Abstract:  The synthesis of precisely engineered nanostructures will enable the discovery of new classes of multi-functional materials and change the way structures are designed. Graphene is a 2D material known for its extremely high strength. Its integration into composites requires clear understanding of its structural and interfacial characteristic at multiple length scales. I will present the route towards graphene/metal-matrix composites, bridging their physics to manufacturing. I will introduce a model material, namely graphene-Pd heterostructure, to study graphene-crystalline materials composites. Mathematical models guide our understanding of the kinetics of graphene synthesis and its atomic registration on ultrathin catalyst towards the precise control of its structure. The mechanics and physics of graphene-Pd heterostructures are characterized at multiple length scales by combining atomic imaging, spectroscopy and mechanical testing. A machine learning approach is proposed to scale up the manufacturing of these new materials for applications ranging from gilding-based coatings, laminated composites to flexible electronics.

Biosketch:  Sam Tawfick is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Science and Engineering and the Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His research is focused on synthesis, self-assembly and mechanical behavior of materials. Tawfick obtained his PhD from the University of Michigan and was a Postdoctoral Associate at MIT. He is the recipient of the AFOSR Young Investigator Program, the Chao and Trigger Young Manufacturing Engineer from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), the Robert M. Caddell Memorial Award for outstanding research in manufacturing, the Azarkhin Award and the Ivor K. McIvor Award for outstanding research in applied mechanics.