| Scope |
This symposium invites papers on methods where electric current is employed for the purpose of increasing the rate of chemical reactions and for achieving phase transformations that are far from equilibrium. Examples include: reduction/oxidation of minerals, reactive flash sintering, and infusion of graphene into metals. Theoretical as well as experimental expositions are welcome. Reports on various classes of materials, metals, ceramics, graphene, and composites thereof, are encouraged. Wide range of processes are included: plasma enhanced processing, flash, SPS, microwave, and electro-discharge-processes. Recent developments in this field spell a renaissance in materials science where colossal generation of defects attributed to electrical current are leading to astronomical rates of diffusion (measured to be eight orders of magnitude faster). The goal of the Symposium is to distill the current work into ideas for future research. Of interest are mechanisms of defect generation and defect recombination, clustering and phases arising from ultrahigh concentration of defects, ultra rates of diffusion, and defect-mediated pathways to specific chemical reactions (for example conversion of ZnS into ZnO). |