Location
Wilsdorf Hall, Rm 303D 395 McCormick Road
Google Scholar Zhou Research Group

About

Prof. Bi-Cheng Zhou's research interests are in computational thermodynamics and kinetics of materials, including first-principles alloy theory, CALPHAD, theories of phase transformations, and nonequilibrium thermodynamics. These methods are applied to lightweight alloys, high-temperature materials, and corrosion. He obtained his Ph.D. in 2015 in MSE with a minor in computational science and a subsequent one-year postdoc from the Pennsylvania State University, both under the guidance of Prof. Zi-Kui Liu. In 2017, he joined Prof. Chris Wolverton’s group at Northwestern University as a postdoctoral fellow. In 2018, he joined the University of Virginia as an Assistant Professor in the MSE department. He was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2024.

 

Education

B.E. Powder Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University, China, 2010

Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 2015

Post-Doc, Pennsylvania State University, 2016

Post-Doc, Northwestern University, 2017-2018

Research Interests

Thermodynamics and kinetics
First-principles alloy theory
Phase transformation
High temperature materials and corrosion
Electrochemical corrosion

Selected Publications

“A cluster-based computational thermodynamics framework with intrinsic chemical short-range order: Part I. Configurational contribution,” Acta Mater. 277 (2024) 120138 C. L. Fu, R. P. Gorrey, B. C. Zhou
Paper link
“Generalization of the mixed space cluster expansion method for arbitrary lattices,” npj Comput. Mater. 9 (2023) 75 K. Wang, D. Cheng, B. C. Zhou
Paper link
“Atomic structures of ordered monolayer GP zones in Mg-Zn-X (X= Ca, Nd) systems” Scripta Mater. 216 (2022) 114744 D. Cheng, E. R. Hoglund, K. Wang, J. M. Howe, S. R. Agnew, B. C. Zhou
Paper link
“Potential-pH diagrams considering complex oxide solution phases for understanding aqueous corrosion of multi-principal element alloys,” npj Mater Degrad 4 (2020) 35 K. Wang, J. Han, A. Y. Gerard, J. R. Scully, B. C. Zhou
Paper link
“Diffusion coefficients of alloying elements in dilute Mg alloys: A comprehensive first-principles study,” Acta Mater. 103 (2016) 573-586. B. C. Zhou, S. L. Shang, Y. Wang, and Z. K. Liu
Paper link

Courses Taught

MSE 6230 Thermodynamics and Phase Equilibria of Materials
MSE 6240 Kinetics of Transport and Transformations in Materials
MSE 2090 Introduction to Materials Science
MSE 3070 Kinetics and Phase Transformation in Materials

Awards

NSF CAREER Award 2021
Invited Speaker, Gordon Research Conference - Physical Metallurgy 2023