RESEARCH AREAS

Thomas O. Mason

Thomas O. Mason Professor, Materials Science and Engineering Northwestern University P: 847-491-3198 E: t-mason@northwestern.edu Mason Research Group B.S., Pennsylvania State University; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Biographical Sketch

Tom Mason received his BS in Ceramic Science from the Pennsylvania State University and his PhD in Materials Science and Engineering (emphasis on ceramics) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  He was a NATO postdoctoral fellow in solid state chemistry with Hermann Schmalzried at the University of Hannover.  He is currently Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University, having joined the faculty as Assistant Professor in 1978.  From 1987 to 1992 he served as Assistant Department Chairman. He was elected to the International Academy of Ceramics and is a “highly cited scientist” by ISI Web of Knowledge.

Research Statement

His research focuses on point defects and transport properties of energy-related electroceramics, including solid electrolytes and electrodes for solid oxide fuel cells and transparent conducting oxides (transparent electrodes) for solar cells and other optoelectronic applications.  His work also involves the determination of phase diagrams of technologically important electroceramic materials systems.  He has been at the forefront of technique development, including in situ high temperature electrical property measurements (for determining ceramic point defect structures), AC-impedance spectroscopy (to establish grain core vs. grain boundary properties of electroceramics), and microstructure-property modeling of electroceramics.  He is also active in nanoscience research, focusing on nanocrystalline ceramics, and also nano-education.  He is currently the Director of Higher Education and Degree Programs of the National Center for Learning and Teaching of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (NCLT) at Northwestern University.  He has a Materials World Network collaboration with the Technical University of Darmstadt for the measurement of surface electronic structure (Fermi levels, work functions) of transparent oxide electrode materials for solar and other applications.

Publications

• “Evidence for surface dipole modifications in In2O3-based transparent conductors,” S. P. Harvey, T. O. Mason, C. Koerber, Y. Gassenbauer, and A. Klein, Appl. Phys. Lett., 92, Art. No. 252106 (2008).
• “The brick layer model revisited: introducing the nano-grain composite model,” N. J. Kidner, N. H. Perry, T. O. Mason, and E. J. Garboczi, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 91, 1733-1746 (2008).
• “Carrier generation and inherent off-stoichiometry in Zn,Sn codoped indium oxide (ZITO) bulk and thin-film specimens,” S. P. Harvey, T. O. Mason, D. B. Buchholz, R. P. H. Chang, C. Koerber, and A. Klein, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 91, 467-472 (2008).

Most Significant Honors & Awards

• Member, International Academy of Ceramics
• Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence
• Fellow, ACerS
• Fulrath-Pacific Award, ACerS, 1994
• Schwartzwalder-PACE Award, ACerS, 1990