Multiscale Materials Design

Willam A. Goddard, III.
Charles and Mary Ferkel Professor of Chemistry, Materials Science, and Applied Physics
Director, Materials and Process Simulation Center (MSC)
California Institute of Technology (139-74)
Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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Advances in theory are making it practical to consider fully first principles (de novo) predictions of many important systems and processes in the materials sciences. In order for such de novo atomistic simulations to fully impact industrial applications, it is necessary to develop strategies for linking the time and length scales from electrons to manufacturing.

We will describe some of the advances in the methods of quantum mechanics, force fields, molecular dynamics, and mesoscale simulations that are beginning to provide fully first principles (de novo) predictions of the properties and processes for such systems. We will illustrate some of the recent progress in Multiscale Materials Design with applications to various problems in materials ranging from metals and oxides to semiconductors and polymers to nucleic acids and proteins. Topics to be covered will be selected from: