James M. LeBeau
Primary Impact, Materials, Research Type
Contact Info
Assistant
Research
Professor James LeBeau develops scanning transmission electron microscopy techniques to connect the atomic structure and chemistry of defects and interfaces with material properties for quantum computing, energy storage, power electronics, dielectrics, and optical applications. These new techniques can be used to collect and interpret data in electron microscopy and describe materials more comprehensively. One goal of Professor LeBeau’s research group is to make electron microscopy more quantitative and reproducible while maintaining the creative elements of the scientific process.
Biography
Professor LeBeau earned a BS in materials science and engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2006 and a PhD in materials from the University of California, Santa Barbara, in 2010. He joined the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at North Carolina State University as a faculty member in January 2011. He came to DMSE as a visiting professor in 2018. He has published more than 90 papers and holds a US patent.
Key Publications
Reactivation of chromia poisoned oxygen exchange kinetics in mixed conducting solid oxide fuel cell electrodes by serial infiltration of lithia
Extended the commercial viability of fuel cells and improved original performance despite long-term degradation of the metal oxide components. We recovered poisoned metal oxide surfaces by systematically controlling their acidity.
Making BaZrS3 chalcogenide perovskite thin films by molecular beam epitaxy
Created high-quality thin films of a new family of semiconductors: chalcogenide perovskites. The films comprise barium, zirconium, and sulfur in a particular structure called perovskite. We used a technique called molecular beam epitaxy to give atomic-level control over crystal growth while producing the films.