Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Ph.D., Lviv State University, 1979
B.S./M.S., Lviv State University, 1976 (with distinction)

• 2006-present Distinguished Professor, Materials Science & Engineering Dept., ISU, Ames
• 2000-2006 Professor, Materials Science & Engineering Dept., ISU, Ames, IA
• 1998-2000 Associate Professor, Materials Science & Engineering Dept., ISU, Ames, IA
• 1985-1994 Associate Professor, Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Lviv State University, Lviv, Ukraine
• 1979-1985 Assistant Professor, Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Lviv State University, Lviv, Ukraine
  
  

• Preparation, crystal structure, experimental thermodynamics, physical and chemical properties of binary, ternary, and multi-component intermetallic compounds containing rare earth metals.
• Relationships between materials' composition, crystal structure and physical properties.
• Development of advanced active and passive magnetic refrigeration materials.
• Physical properties of ultra-pure rare earth metals.
• Anomalous behavior of 4f-electron systems.
• Hydrogen storage materials.

Current projects:

• K.A. Gschneidner, V.K. Pecharsky, B.N. Harmon, L.S. Chumbley, T.A. Lograsso, G.J. Miller.  "Extraordinary responsive magnetic rare earth materials," continuing.  Materials Sciences Division, Office of Basic Energy Sciences of the US DOE. FY 2007 funding $1,221,500.00.
• V.K. Pecharsky, L.S. Chumbley, M. Pruski, V.S.-Y. Lin, and P. Jena (Virginia Commonwealth University). "Complex hydrides: A new frontier for future energy applications." Materials Sciences Division, Office of Basic Energy Sciences of the US DOE. October 1, 2006 through September 31, 2008. $1,635,000.00.
  
• V.K. Pecharsky and K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., "Characterization of magnetocaloric materials," ONR via a subcontract through Astronautics Corporation of America, Madison, WI.  October 1, 2006 - September 31, 2008. $90,000.00.
  

• MatE-212 "Thermodynamics in Materials Engineering"
• ENGR-160 "Engineering problem solving with elements of computer programming"
• MSE-535 "X-ray, neutron and electron diffraction"
• MSE-516 "Chemistry of crystalline materials"
• MSE-501 "Thermodynamics of Materials"
  

Technical Publications:

• D.C. Jiles, S.H. Song, J.E. Snyder, V.K. Pecharsky, T.A. Lograsso,  D. Wu, A.O. Pecharsky, Ya. Mudryk, K.W.Dennis, and R.W. McCallum, "Thermal expansion and magnetostriction in Pr_(n+2)(n+1)Ni_n(n-1)+2Si_n(n+1) compounds", J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 299, 288 – 299 (2006).
• J. D. Moore, G. K. Perkins, Y. V. Bugoslavky, M. K. Chattopadhyay, S. B. Roy, P. Chaddah, V. K. Pecharsky, K. A. Gschneidner, Jr. and L. F. Cohen, "Reducing the operational magnetic field in the prototype magnetocaloric system Gd₅Ge₄ by approaching the single cluster size limit,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 88, 072501 (2006).
• C. Ritter, C. Magen, L. Morellon, P.A. Algarabel, M.R. Ibarra, V.K. Pecharsky, A.O. Tsokol, and K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., “Magnetic and crystallographic structures of Er₅(Si_xGe_1-x)₄”, J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 18, 3937-3950 (2006).
• D. Paudyal, V.K. Pecharsky, K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., and B.N. Harmon, “Electron correlation effects on magnetostructural transition and magnetocaloric effect in Gd₅Si₂Ge₂”, Phys. Rev. B 73, 144406/1-144406/12 (2006).
• M.D. Kuz’min, A.S. Chernyshov, V.K. Pecharsky, K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., and A.M. Tishin, “Temperature dependence of the ferromagnetic order parameter in Gd, Tb and Dy,” Phys. Rev. B 73, 132403 (2006).
• M. Zou, H. Tang, D.L. Schlagel, T.A. Lograsso, K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., and V.K. Pecharsky, “Spontaneous generation of voltage in single crystal Gd₅Si₂Ge₂ during magnetostructural phase transformations”, J. Appl. Phys. 99, 08B304/1 – 3 (2006).
• N. Nersessian, S.W. Or, G.P. Carman, W. Choe, H.B. Radousky, V.K. Pecharsky, and A.O. Pecharsky, Temperature and magnetic field induced phase transformation in bulk and composite Gd5Si2Ge2. Smart Structures and Materials 2003: Active Materials: Behavior and Mechanics, D. C. Lagoudas, Ed., Proceedings of SPIE 5053, 25-30 (2003).
• A. Chernyshov, Ya. Mudryk, V.K. Pecharsky, and K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., “Structural and magnetothermal properties of the Gd₅Sb_xGe_4-x system”, J. Appl. Phys. 99, 08Q102/1 – 3 (2006).
• J. D. Moore, G. K. Perkins, Y. Bugoslavsky, L.F. Cohen, M.K. Chattopadhyay, S.B. Roy, P. Chaddah, K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., and V.K. Pecharsky, “Correlating the local magnetic properties of the magnetic phase transition in Gd₅Ge₄ using scanning Hall probe imaging”, Phys. Rev. B 73, 144426 (2006).
• C.J. Voyer, D.H. Ryan, K. Ahn, K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., and V.K. Pecharsky, “Valence and magnetic ordering in the Yb₅Si_xGe_4-x pseudobinary system,” Phys. Rev. B 73, 174422/1-6 (2006).
• M. Manekar, M.K. Chattopadhyay, R. Kaul, V.K. Pecharsky, and K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., “Training effects in Gd₅Ge₄: Role of microstructure”, J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 18, 3937-3950 (2006).
• K.A. Gschneidner, Jr. and V.K. Pecharsky, “Binary rare earth Laves phases – an overview,” Z. Kristallogr. 221, 375-381 (2006).
• S.B. Roy, M.K. Chattopadhyay, P. Chaddah, J.D. Moore, G.K. Perkins, L.F. Cohen, K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., and V.K. Pecharsky, “Evidence of a magnetic glass state in the magnetocaloric material Gd₅Ge₄,” Phys. Rev. B 74, 012403/1-4 (2006).
• Z.W. Ouyang, V.K. Pecharsky, K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., D.L. Schlagel, and T.A. Lograsso, “Magnetic anisotropy and magnetic phase diagram of Gd₅Ge₄”, Phys. Rev. B 74, 024401/1-11 (2006).
• Z.W. Ouyang, V.K. Pecharsky, K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., D.L. Schlagel, and T.A. Lograsso, “Short range anisotropic ferromagnetic correlations in the paramagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases of Gd₅Ge₄,” Phys. Rev. B 74, 094404/1-8 (2006).
• C. Magen, L. Morellon, Z. Arnold, P.A. Algarabel, C. Ritter, M.R. Ibarra, J. Kamarad, A.O. Tsokol, K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., and V.K. Pecharsky, “Effects of pressure on the magnetic and crystallographic structure of Er₅Si₄,” Phys. Rev. B 74, 134427/1-8 (2006).
• C. Magen, C. Ritter, L. Morellon, P.A. Algarabel, M.R. Ibarra, A.O. Tsokol, K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., and V.K. Pecharsky, “Magnetic-field-induced structural transformations in Er₅Si₄,” Phys. Rev. B 74, 174413/1-8 (2006).
• O. Svitelskiy, A. Suslov, D.L. Schlagel, T.A. Lograsso, K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., and V.K. Pecharsky, “Elastic properties of Gd₅(Si₂Ge₂) studied by ultrasonic pulse-echo technique”, Phys. Rev. B 74, 184105/1-5 (2006).
• V.K. Pecharsky and K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., “Advanced Magnetocaloric Materials: What does the future hold?” Int. J. Refrigeration 29, 1239-1249 (2006).
• K.A. Gschneidner, Jr. and V.K. Pecharsky, “Rare earths and magnetic refrigeration,” J. Rare Earths 24, 641-647 (2006).
• K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., A.O. Tsokol, L. Hale, and V.K. Pecharsky, “New 5 K magnetic rare earth regenerator intermetallic compound,” Adv. Cryogen. Engin.: Trans. Intern. Conf. Cryogen. Mater. – ICMC, Ed. U. Balachamdran, vol. 52 (AIP, 2006), pp. 19 – 26.
• Z. Min, Ya. Mudryk, V.K. Pecharsky, K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., D.L. Schlage, and T.A. Lograsso, “Crystallography, anisotropic magnetism, and magnetocaloric effect in Tb₅Si_2.2Ge_1.8,” Phys. Rev. B. 75, 024418/1-8 (2007).

Books:

• V.K. Pecharsky and P.Y. Zavalij, "Fundamental of powder diffraction and structural characterization of materials," Hardbound edition, Kluwer Academic Publishers (New York, 2003); Soft cover edition, Springer (New york, 2005) 714 pp.

Books edited:

• Handbook on the Physics and Chemistry of Rare Earths, K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., J.-C. Bunzli and V.K. Pecharsky, Eds., Vol. 33 (North Holland, Amsterdam, 2003) 550 pp.
• Handbook on the Physics and Chemistry of Rare Earths, K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., J.-C. Bunzli and V.K. Pecharsky, Eds., Vol. 34 (North Holland, Amsterdam, 2005) 508 pp.
• Handbook on the Physics and Chemistry of Rare Earths, K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., J.-C. Bunzli and V.K. Pecharsky, Eds., Vol. 35 (North Holland, Amsterdam, 2005) 389 pp.
• Handbook on the Physics and Chemistry of Rare Earths, K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., J.-C. Bunzli and V.K. Pecharsky, Eds., Vol. 36 (North Holland, Amsterdam, 2006) 521 pp.
• Rare Earths 2005, Proceedings of the 24^th Rare Earth Research Conference, June 26-30, 2005, Keystone, CO), J. Alloys Compds., L.R. Morss, V.K. Pecharsky, M.F. Ried, and H.B. Silber, Eds., vol. 412, 264 pp.
  

• “Advanced magnetocaloric materials" (invited), presented at the XX^th Internationl Workshop “New Magnetic Materials for Microelectronics – NMMM-20”, Moscow, Russia, June 13, 2006.
• “The R_(n+1)(n+2)Ni_n(n-1)+2Si_n(n+1) series - an old playground for a crystallographer, a new playground for a physicist” (invited), presented at the 15^th International Conference on Solid Compounds of Transition Elements, Krakow, Poland, July 16, 2006.
• “Some extraordinary effects associated with magnetostructural transitions in R₅T₄ compounds” (invited, plenary), presented at the 15^th International Conference on Solid Compounds of Transition Elements, Krakow, Poland, July 17, 2006.
• “Structure, Magnetism and Thermodynamics of Novel Rare Earth Based Intermetallic Materials” (invited, plenary), presented at 5the 19^th International Conference on Chemical Thermodynamics, Boulder, CO, August 4, 2006.
•  “In-situ powder diffraction involving high magnetic fields” (invited, plenary), presented at the European Powder Diffraction Conference, EPDIC-10, Geneva, Switzerland, September 3, 2006.
• “Gd₅Ge₄: a Model and a Prototype” (invited), presented at the 6^th International Conference of f-elements, ICFE-06, Wroclaw, Poland, September 7, 2006.
• “X-ray powder diffraction in high magnetic field” (invited), presented at the 64^th Pittsburgh Diffraction Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, October  27, 2006.

• A.O. Pecharsky, K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., and V.K. Pecharsky, Method of making active magnetic refrigerant materials based on Gd-Si-Ge alloys, US Patent No. 7,114,340 of October 3, 2006.
• V.K. Pecharsky, V.P. Balema, J. W. Wiench, and M. Paruski, "Solvent-free mechanochemical preparation of phosphonium salts, phosphorus ylides, and olefins" US Patent 7,105,714 of September 12, 2006.
• V.K. Pecharsky and V.P. Balema, Method of production of pure hydrogen near room temperature from aluminum hydride based materials, US Patent 6,773,692 of August 10, 2004.
  
• Seong-Jae Lee, D.C. Jiles, V.K. Pecharsky, and K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., Permanent magnet structure for generation of magnetic fields, U.S. Patent  No. 6,680,663 of January 20, 2004.
• V.K. Pecharsky, V.P. Balema, J. W. Wiench, and M. Paruski, "Solvent-free mechanochemical preparation of phosphonium salts, phosphorus ylides, and olefins" US Patent 6,773,692 of August 10, 2004.
• K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., A.O. Pecharsky, and V.K. Pecharsky, Method of making active magnetic refrigerant, colossal magnetostriction and giant magnetoresistive materials based on Gd-Si-Ge alloys, U.S. Patent No. 6,589,366 of July 8, 2003.
• K.A. Gschneidner, Jr., A.O. Pecharsky, and V.K. Pecharsky. Ductile Magnetic Regenerator Alloys for Closed Cycle Cryocoolers. US Patent No. 6,318,090 of November 20, 2001.
• I.E. Anderson, T.W. Ellis, V.K. Pecharsky, J. Ting, and R. Terpstra, R.C. Bowman, C.K. Witham, B.T. Fultz, and R.V. Bugga, Ultrafine Hydrogen Storage Powders., U.S. Patent No. 6,074,453 of June 13, 2000.
• K.A. Gschneidner and V.K.Pecharsky, "Dual Stage Active Magnetic Regenerator and Method.", US Patent No. 5,887,449 of March 30, 1999.
• Pecharsky, V.K., Gschneidner, K.A., Jr., and Moorman, J.O., Calorimetric system and method, US Patent No. 5,806,979 of September 15, 1998.
• Gschneidner, K.A., Jr. and Pecharsky, V.K., Active magnetic refrigerants based on Gd-Si-Ge material and refrigeration apparatus and process, US Patent No. 5,743,095 of April 28, 1998.
• Gschneidner, K.A., Jr. and Pecharsky, V.K., Erbium-based magnetic refrigerant (regenerator) for passive cryocooler, US patent No. 5,537,826 of July 23, 1996

• 2006 - Named Anson Marston Distinguished Professor of Engineering
  
• 2003 - Materials Science and Engineering Department Excellence in Research Award.
• 2003 - Innovative Housing Technology Awards: Coming of Age Award for Magnetic Refrigerator by the National Association of Home Builders, Atlanta, GA. With K.A. Gschneidner, Jr.
• 2002 - Winner of the Federal Laboratory Consortiums Mid-Continent Award for Outstanding Regional Partnership between DOEs Ames Laboratory and Astronautics Corporation of America on Magnetic refrigeration technology. With K.A. Gschneidner, Jr. and C.B. Zimm. September 19.
• 2002 - Laboratory prototype near room temperature magnetic refrigerator developed by the Astronautics Corporation of America and Ames Laboratory was featured as an exhibit at the Global Eight (G-8) energy ministers conference in Detroit, MI, May 1-3.
• 2001 - Winner of the US DOE's Energy100 Award for the "Magnetic Refrigeration Unit".
  Details are at www.ma.doe.gov/energy100/. In collaboration with K.A. Gschneidner, Jr. January 2001.
• 1999 - Appointed to serve as a technical editor for the "Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol.45" -- Proceedings of the Cryogenic Engineering Conference/International Cryogenic Materials Conference held in Montreal, July 12-16, 1999.
• 1999 - Award of Excellence for a Technical Paper "Magnetic Cooling for Appliances" presented at the 50th Anniversary Conference of the International Appliance Technical Conference at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, May 10-12, 1999.
  
• 1997 - US DOE Materials Science Award for Significant Implication for the Department of Energy Related Technologies in the Metallurgy and Ceramics for the Research "The
  Giant Magnetocaloric Effect Materials, Gd5(SixGe1-x)4, and their Impact on Refrigeration Technologies"
• 1995 - Russel B. Scott Memorial Award for the best research paper published in Advances in Cryogenic Engineering in 1993.
• 1992 - Secretary of the Ukrainian Crystallographic Committee (resigned in April 1993).
• 1989 - Stipend for an exchange visit of the Ames Laboratory as Visiting Scientist from IREX (International Research and Exchange Board, Princeton, NJ).
• 1976 - Award and Gold medal of the USSR Department of Higher Education for excellence in graduate student scientific research.
• 1976 - Recognized for excellence as a graduate by Lviv State University.
  
  

M.S. Degree:
• Lucas Hale, 2004 - to date
  
• Rangarajan Vijayaraghavan, 2003-2005
  
• Keita Hosokawa, 2000 - 2002
• Vitalii Ivtchenko, 1999 - 2002
  
• Xuejun Niu, 1998 - 2000
  

  
  

  PhD Degree:

• Haiqiao Zhang, 2003 -  to date
• Zou Min, August 2002 - to date
• Alexander Chernyshov, 2003 - 2006
  
• Kyunhan Ahn, 2002 - 2007
  
• Yi-Lei Wu, February 1999 - 2002
• He Huang, August 1999 - 2002
  

  
  

  Post Doctoral Research Associates and Visiting Scientists:

• Niraj Singh, 2007 - to date
  
• Nirmala Rathinam, 2006 - 2007
• Oleksandr Dolotko, 2005 - to date
  
• Durga Paudyal, 2004 - to date
  
• Zongwen Ouyang, 2004 - 2006
  
• Juraci Sampaio, 2003 - 2006
  
• Yaroslav Mudryk, 2003 - 2005
  
• Ana Lucia Lima, 2002 - 2003
  
• Aaron Holm, 2002 - 2003
• Hong Tang, 2001 - 2004
• Viktor Balema, 1998 - 2001