16th International Ceramics Congress
Plenary Lectures

C:PL1  Extreme Condition Sintering for Ceramics
ZHENGYI FU, Wuhan University of Technology, China

High-pressure synthesis routes enable the access to a broad variety of novel nitride-based materials with properties far beyond that of the state of the art. The ultimate goal of our studies is to advance the knowledge and understanding of inorganic nitrides, oxynitrides and nitride-based (nano)composites synthesized under high-pressure and high temperature conditions. The discovery of novel nitrides will open space for new fundamental materials science studies on the one hand and application-oriented research on the other hand. Our research is part of the materials driven technology, which is an essential requirement for the future demands with respect to the development of new technologies. Binary, ternary and multinary nitrides or oxynitrides are in the focus of our studies. Theoretical predictions of novel metal or non-metal nitride solid-state structures guide the experimental studies.The fabrication of advanced ceramics faces challenges such as high sintering temperature, problem in controlling microstructure, contradiction between densification and grain growth, etc. These lead to difficulty in further enhancing strength and the conflict between strength and toughness. Developing new sintering technologies under extreme conditions is a crucial pathway to solve these problems. This report focuses on the research by our team, which includes: ultra-fast sintering and key factors controlling ultra-fast densification; electric field-assisted rapid sintering and mechanisms of rapid atomic diffusion under electric fields; high-pressure and ultrahigh-pressure sintering, and densification mechanisms via quasi-plastic deformation and structural microdynamics; bioprocessing-inspired room-temperature and low-temperature fabrication; new structure/property relationships and physical-chemical-mechanical behaviors of ceramics. The use of a large volume press allows to produce new materials in amounts suitable for further mechanical and functional characterization. Molecular single source precursors are synthesized and transformed to inorganic solid nitrides as starting materials. Special emphasis is placed on (i) fundamental questions regarding pressure-temperature phase relations, (ii) nitrides, which have been predicted but not synthesized yet, and (iii) nitride-based (nano)composites which combine at least two binary high-pressure phases in one material. The novel nitrides are evaluated in terms of their challenging and technologically relevant properties including (i) thermodynamic stability/metastability and (ii) structural (hardness) as well as functional (optoelectronic) properties. Finally, our research contributes to extend the “Nitride World” and to deliver perspective materials based on the inorganic nitride family with advanced functionality and exceptional levels of performance for application in the key technologies of the 21st century.


C:PL2  Nanoparticle Engineering Technologies for the Fabrication of Li-ion Batteries and Semiconductor Devices
UNGYU PAIK, TAESEUP SONG, GANGYU LEE, JIWOON KIM, INSUNG HWANG, MINSUNG KIM, Department of Energy Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Nanoparticle engineering technologies have played a crucial role in advancing both the Li- ion batteries (LIBs) and semiconductors. This presentation is divided into two sections.
1) LIBs: roll-to-roll dry coating process is a practical and environmentally benign approach for the mass production of ultra-high thick electrodes, enabling high energy density LIBs with low cost. By engineering the interfacial interaction among electrode components and rearrangement of cathode particulates (cathode active materials), dry electrode (10 mAh cm⁻²) with low resistance can be achieved with three main characteristics: 1) robust mechanical properties by formation of fiber networks, 2) uniform pore size/distribution and 3) crack free of secondary cathode particulates.
2) Semiconductors: Middle-of-the-line (MOL) interconnect metals are critical for signal transmission in advanced semiconductor devices. Molybdenum (Mo), with low resistivity and superior gap-filling ability, is a promising replacement for tungsten beyond sub-3nm logic and 3D memory devices. However, the low stability of nanoparticle-dispersed slurry and high Mo dissolution during chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) hinder its practical use. The efficiency of the planarization process can be improved by controlling inter-particle interactions through the surface modification of nanoparticles and by engineering the oxidation behavior between nano-sized silica particles suspended in an acidic region and the Mo film.