Alumni

Graduate Students

Osama Awadallah

Ph.D. 2013-2018Osama Awadallah
M.S.  Mechanical Design and Production Engineering, Cairo University, Egypt (2009)
B.S.  Mechanical Design and Production Engineering, Cairo University, Egypt (2008)
Current position: Associate at Exponent – Battery Testing & Failure Analysis
Dissertation: Synthesis, Processing, and Fundamental Phase Formation Study of CZTS Films for Solar Cell Applications
Major publications:
1.  Awadallah, Osama; Durygin, Andriy; Cheng, Zhe*. ” Unveiling the Phase Evolution of Sol–Gel Sulfurized Cu2ZnSnS4 Thin Films in ppm-Level H2S: From Binary Sulfides to Quaternary Cu-Zn-Sn-S System,” Journal of Electronic Materials (2021), 50, 314-324.  DOI:10.1007/s11664-020-08539-3
2.  Awadallah, Osama; Cheng, Zhe*. “Study of the fundamental phase formation mechanism of sol-gel sulfurized Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films using in situ Raman spectroscopy,” Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells (2018), 176, 222-229.  DOI:10.1016/j.solmat.2017.11.038
3.  Sun, Shichen; Awadallah, Osama; Cheng, Zhe*. “Poisoning of Nickel-Based Anode for Proton Conducting SOFC by H2S, CO2, and H2O as Fuel Contaminants,”  Journal of Power Sources (2018), 378, 255-263.  DOI:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.12.056
4.  Awadallah, Osama; Cheng, Zhe*. “Formation of sol-gel based Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films using ppm-level hydrogen sulfide,” Thin Solid Films (2017), 625 (1), 122-130.  DOI:10.1016/j.tsf.2017.01.054
5.  Awadallah, Osama; Hernandez, Joseph; Durygin, Andriy; Cheng, Zhe*. “In Situ Raman Monitoring of Kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 Phase Formation from Sulfurization of Sol-gel Oxide Precursors,” Photovoltaics Specialist Conference (PVSC), 2017 IEEE 44th (2017), 3473-3477.  DOI:10.1109/PVSC.2017.8366144
6.  Awadallah, Osama; Cheng, Zhe*. “In Situ Raman Monitoring of Cu2ZnSnS4 Oxidation and Related Decomposition at Elevated Temperatures,” IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics (2016), 6(3), 764-769.  DOI:10.1109/JPHOTOV.2016.2542479.  DOI:10.1149/2.0021508jes
7.  Awadallah, Osama; Cheng, Zhe*. “In situ Raman Characterization of Cu2ZnSnS4 Solar Absorber Materials,” Photovoltaics Specialist Conference (PVSC), 2015 IEEE 42nd (2015), 1-6.  DOI:10.1109/PVSC.2015.

Andrés E Behrens

M.S. 2016-2018
Current position: Patent examiner at the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO)
Major publications:
1.  Cheng, Zhe; Foroughi, Paniz; Behrens, Andrés, “Synthesis of high temperature ceramic powders,” US Patent 9,919,973.
2.  Cheng, Zhe*; Foroughi, Paniz; Behrens, Andrés. “Synthesis of nanocrystalline TaC powders via single-step high temperature spray pyrolysis from solution precursors,” Ceramics International (2017), 43(3), 3431-3434.  DOI:0.1016/j.ceramint.2016.11.177

Jose Belisario

M.S. 2018-2020
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Arizona (1984)
Tel: 305-348-6009
Current position: Ph.D. student at the University of Central Florida (UCF)
Major publications:
1. Belisario, Jose; Mondal, Santanu; Khakpour, Iman; Franco Hernandez, Alexander; Durygin, Andriy; Cheng, Zhe*. “Synthesis and flash sintering of (Hf1-xZrx)B2 solid solution powders,” Journal of the European Ceramic Society (2021), 41(4), 2215-2225.  DOI:10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2020.12.015
2. Mondal, Santanu; Durygin, Andriy; Drozd, Vadym; Belisario, Jose; Cheng, Zhe*.  “Multicomponent bulk metal nitride (Nb1/3Ta1/3Ti1/3)N1−δ synthesis via reaction flash sintering and characterizations,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society (2020), 103(9), 4876-4893.  DOI:10.1111/jace.17226

Diana Chira

M.S. 2013-2015
Project: Novel processing of Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) solar absorber material
Current position: Chemistry teacher at A.W Dreyfoos School Of The Arts

Amirali Eskandariyun

2021 Aug – 2022 Aug
M.S. Aerospace Engineering, University of Tehran (2018)
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Tehran (2015)
Current position: Ph.D. Student at the University of Washington
Project: Understanding Flash Sintering Process for Zirconium Nitride

Paniz Foroughi

Ph.D. 2013-2018Paniz Foroughi
B.S. Materials Science and Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Iran (2012)
Current position: Lead Materials Scientist at Magic Leap
Dissertation: Synthesis & Fundamental Formation Mechanism Study of High Temperature & Ultrahigh Temperature Ceramics
Major publications:
1. Foroughi, Paniz; Durygin, Andriy; Sun, Shichen; Cheng, Zhe*. “Flash sintering of tantalum-hafnium diboride solid solution powder,” Journal of Materials Research (2022), 1-7. DOI:10.1557/s43578-022-00492-7
2. Xing, Junheng; Foroughi, Paniz; Mondal, Santanu; Sun, Shichen; Cheng, Zhe*. “Facile and economical routes toward novel high-entropy metal nitride high-temperature ceramic nanograin powders,” MRS Communications (2022), 1-5, DOI:10.1557/s43579-022-00159-8
3. Xing, Junheng; Foroughi, Paniz; Hernandez, Alexander Franco; Behrens, Andrés; Cheng, Zhe*. “Facile one-step high-temperature spray pyrolysis route toward metal carbide nanopowders,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society (2018), 101(12), 5323-5334.  DOI:10.1111/jace.15785
4.  Foroughi, Paniz; Rabiei Baboukani, Amin; Hernandez, Alexander Franco; Wang, Chunlei; Cheng, Zhe* “Phase Control during Synthesis of Nanocrystalline Ultrahigh Temperature Tantalum-Hafnium Diboride Powders,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society (2018), 101(12), 5745-5755.  DOI:10.1111/jace.15783
5.  Foroughi, Paniz; Zhang, Cheng; Agarwal, Arvind; Cheng, Zhe*. “Controlling phase separation of TaxHf1−xC solid solution nanopowders during carbothermal reduction synthesis,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society (2017), 100 (11), 5056-5065.  DOI:10.1111/jace.15065
6.  Cheng, Zhe*; Foroughi, Paniz; Behrens, Andrés. “Synthesis of nanocrystalline TaC powders via single-step high temperature spray pyrolysis from solution precursors,” Ceramics International (2017), 43(3), 3431-3434.  DOI:0.1016/j.ceramint.2016.11.177
7.  Cheng, Zhe; Foroughi, Paniz; Behrens, Andrés, “Synthesis of high temperature ceramic powders,” US Patent 9,919,973.
8.  Foroughi, Paniz; Cheng, Zhe*. “Understanding the morphological variation in the formation of B4C via carbothermal reduction reaction,” Ceramics International (2016), 42(14), 15189-15198.  DOI:10.1016/j.ceramint.2016.06.126
9.  Foroughi, Paniz; Cheng, Zhe*. “From Micron-sized Particles to Nanoparticles and Nanobelts: Structural Non-uniformity in the Synthesis of Boron Carbide by Carbothermal Reduction Reaction,” Advances in Ceramic Armor XI: A Collection of Papers Presented at the 39th International Conference on Advanced Ceramics and Composites (ed J. C. LaSalvia), John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, USA (2016), 51-62.  DOI:10.1002/9781119211549.ch5

Santanu Mondal

M.S. 2018-2020
B.S. Ceramic Technology, West Bengal University of Technology, India (2012)
Current position: PhD student at Virginia Tech
Major publications:
1. Xing, Junheng; Foroughi, Paniz; Mondal, Santanu; Sun, Shichen; Cheng, Zhe*. “Facile and economical routes toward novel high-entropy metal nitride high-temperature ceramic nanograin powders,” MRS Communications (2022), 1-5, DOI:10.1557/s43579-022-00159-8
2. Belisario, Jose; Mondal, Santanu; Khakpour, Iman; Franco Hernandez, Alexander; Durygin, Andriy; Cheng, Zhe*. “Synthesis and flash sintering of (Hf1-xZrx)B2 solid solution powders,” Journal of the European Ceramic Society (2021), 41(4), 2215-2225.  DOI:10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2020.12.015
3. Mondal, Santanu; Durygin, Andriy; Drozd, Vadym; Belisario, Jose; Cheng, Zhe*.  “Multicomponent bulk metal nitride (Nb1/3Ta1/3Ti1/3)N1−δ synthesis via reaction flash sintering and characterizations,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society (2020), 103(9), 4876-4893.  DOI:10.1111/jace.17226

Shichen Sun

Ph.D. 2013-2018Shichen Sun
B.S. Materials Physics, Fudan University, China (2011)
Current position: Postdoc researcher at the University of South Carolina
Dissertation: Electrochemical Behaviors of the Electrodes for Proton Conducting Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (IT-SOFC)
Major publications:
1. Foroughi, Paniz; Durygin, Andriy; Sun, Shichen; Cheng, Zhe*. “Flash sintering of tantalum-hafnium diboride solid solution powder,” Journal of Materials Research (2022), 1-7. DOI:10.1557/s43578-022-00492-7
2. Xing, Junheng; Foroughi, Paniz; Mondal, Santanu; Sun, Shichen; Cheng, Zhe*. “Facile and economical routes toward novel high-entropy metal nitride high-temperature ceramic nanograin powders,” MRS Communications (2022), 1-5, DOI:10.1557/s43579-022-00159-8
3. Sun, Shichen; Cheng, Zhe*. “SrCo0.8Nb0.1Ta0.1O3−δ Based Cathodes for Electrolyte-Supported Proton-Conducting Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Comparison with Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δ Based Cathodes and Implications,” Journal of the Electrochemical Society (2020), 167 (2), 024514.  DOI:10.1149/1945-7111/ab6bba
4.  Sun, Shichen; Cheng, Zhe*. “H2S poisoning of proton conducting solid oxide fuel cell and comparison with conventional oxide-ion conducting solid oxide fuel cell,” Journal of the Electrochemical Society (2018), 165 (10), F836-F844.  DOI:10.1149/2.0841810jes
5.  Sun, Shichen; Awadallah, Osama; Cheng, Zhe*. “Poisoning of Nickel-Based Anode for Proton Conducting SOFC by H2S, CO2, and H2O as Fuel Contaminants,”  Journal of Power Sources (2018), 378, 255-263.  DOI:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.12.056
6.  Sun, Shichen; Cheng, Zhe*. “Electrochemical Behaviors for Ag, LSCF and BSCF as Oxygen Electrodes for Proton Conducting IT-SOFC,” Journal of the Electrochemical Society (2017), 164(10), F3104-F3113.  DOI:10.1149/2.0121710jes
7.  Sun, Shichen; Cheng, Zhe*. “Effects of H2O and CO2 on Electrochemical Behaviors of BSCF Cathode for Proton Conducting IT-SOFC,” Journal of the Electrochemical Society (2017), 164(2), F81-F88.  DOI:10.1149/2.0611702jes

Armin Vahid Mohammadi

M.S. 2013-2015Armin Vahid Mohammadi
Current position: Sr. Cell Engineer at Tesla
Major publications:
1.  VahidMohammadi, Armin; Cheng, Zhe*. “Fundamentals of Synthesis, Sintering Issues, and Chemical Stability of BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3-δ Proton Conducting Electrolyte for SOFCs,” Journal of the Electrochemical Society (2015), 162(8), F803-811.  DOI:10.1149/2.0021508jes
2.  VahidMohammadi, Armin; Cheng, Zhe*. “Study on Sintering and Stability Issues of BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3-δ Electrolyte for SOFCs,” Advances in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells and Electronic Ceramics: A Collection of Papers Presented at 39th International Conference on Advanced Ceramics and Composites (eds N. P. Bansal, M. Kusnezoff and K. Shimamura), John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, USA (2016) 21-29.  DOI:10.1002/9781119211501.ch3

Postdoc Researcher

Junheng Xing

Postdoc 2017-2018
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, China (2014)
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, China (2007)
Project: Novel fabrication of high-temperature and ultrahigh-temperature ceramic powders using techniques such as high-temperature spray pyrolysis (HTSP)
Major publications:
1. Xing, Junheng; Foroughi, Paniz; Mondal, Santanu; Sun, Shichen; Cheng, Zhe*. “Facile and economical routes toward novel high-entropy metal nitride high-temperature ceramic nanograin powders,” MRS Communications (2022), 1-5, DOI:10.1557/s43579-022-00159-8
2.  Xing, Junheng; Foroughi, Paniz; Hernandez, Alexander Franco; Behrens, Andrés; Cheng, Zhe*. “Facile one-step high-temperature spray pyrolysis route toward metal carbide nanopowders,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society (2018), 101(12), 5323-5334.  DOI:10.1111/jace.15785

Undergraduate Students

Driany Alfonso Jr.

2015-2016
Project: Preparation of green YSZ samples for flash sintering
Current Position: Project Development Engineer at ExxonMobil

Christian Cazzaniga

2020-2022
Project: Design and fabrication of environmental chamber for flash sintering

Diego Dubois

2021-2022
Current Position: Mechanical Engineer at Sintavia
Publications/Presentations:
1. Das, Suprabha; Dubois, Diego; Sozal, Md Shariful Islam; Emirov, Yusuf; Jafarizadeh, Borzooye; Wang, Chunlei; Drozd, Vadym; Durygin, Andriy; Cheng, Zhe*. “Synthesis and flash sintering of zirconium nitride powder,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society (2022), 105(6), 3925-3936. DOI:10.1111/jace.18421
2. FIU MME 2021 fall Undergraduate Research Symposium: Preliminary study on flash sintering of commercial ZrN powders

Joseph Hernandez

2015-2016
Project: Design and fabrication of an in situ Raman micro-spectroscopy chamber with temperature and atmosphere control
Current Position: Mechanical Engineer at Honeybee Robotics
Publications/Presentations:
1. Awadallah, Osama; Hernandez, Joseph; Durygin, Andriy; Cheng, Zhe*. “In Situ Raman Monitoring of Kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 Phase Formation from Sulfurization of Sol-gel Oxide Precursors,” Photovoltaics Specialist Conference (PVSC), 2017 IEEE 44th (2017), 3473-3477.  DOI:10.1109/PVSC.2017.8366144

 

Giancarlo Lombardi

2014-2015
Project: Design of an in situ Raman micro-spectroscopy chamber with temperature and atmosphere control
Current Position: Guidance, Navigation and Control Engineer Sr at Lockheed Martin

Eddie Martinez

2014
Project: Synthesis of nano ZrB2 powders
FIU McNair Scholar (11th cohort, 2014) doing summer research in Dr. Cheng’s lab