Prof. David Fuks
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Professor
Department :
Department of Materials Engineering
Room :
Phone :
Email :
fuks@bgu.ac.il
Office Hours :
Education
1986 Full Professor Higher Certifying Commission of the Council of Ministers,
in Physics Moscow, USSR
1984 D.Sc. Moscow State University - Department of
(Dr. Habil.) Solid State Physics - Moscow, USSR
1981 Associate Professor Higher Certifying Commission of the Council of
in Physics Ministers, Moscow, USSR
1972-75 Ph.D. Tomsk State University - Department of Solid
State Physics - Tomsk, USSR
1966-71 B.Sc. - M.Sc. Odessa State University - Department of
Theoretical Physics - Odessa, USSR
Graduated Cum Laude
Research Interests
Quantum-mechanical theory of metals and alloys, band structure calculations
Thermodynamics and statistical theory of solid and liquid metallic systems
Thermodynamics and kinetics of phase transitions
Point defects and diffusion in metals and alloys, inter-diffusion
Thin metallic films growth
Computer modeling of the charge storage in memory devices
Adsorption and wetting phenomena.
Research Projects
German-Israeli Foundation (GIF): Mixed conducting perovskites: solid solution thermodynamics
and oxygen surface reaction
Research Abstract
The project is devoted to the complementary theoretical and experimental study of thermodynamics for ABO3-type perovskite solid solutions and the kinetics of the oxygen incorporation into such complex mixed conducting solids. These materials are widely used as cathodes of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) allowing very efficient transformation of chemical energy into electricity. We will combine our unique complementary expertise in the challenging task of identifying and understanding composition-property relations in the multicomponent important solid solutions such as (Sr,La)CoO3-? , (Sr,Bi)FeO3 and (Ba,Sr)(Co,Fe)O3. Theory will combine
ab initio
DFT and DFT-HF hybrid large scale parallel calculations of the atomic and electronic structure of surface processes to be done by German side and a novel thermodynamic ansatz of perfect and defective solid solutions under realistic SOFC operating conditions to be done by Israeli side. The relevant mixing interatomic potentials used in thermodynamics will be extracted from
ab initio
calculations. Theory will be focused on interpretation of existing experiments and prediction of new compositions and phenomena, including phase diagrams and dopant ordering effects. The experiments will include pulsed laser deposition of dense thin film mode electrodes for measurements of conductivity and oxygen incorporation resistance by microcontact impedance spectroscopy. Additional bulk transport and surface spectroscopic studies are planned. As a result of this atomistic study, the realistic and detailed mechanism of oxygen adsorption, dissociation, and incorporation as a function of external conditions and solid solution composition (including oxygen nonstoichiometry) will be identified and as a result, materials with improved properties (reduced operation temperature, increased structural and chemical stability, ageing) suggested for SOFC applications.