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Diana Berman

Associate Professor - Materials Science & Engineering
940-891-6778
Diana.Berman@unt.edu
Google Scholar
UNT Faculty Profile

Dr. Diana Berman received her Ph.D. degree in Physics from North Carolina State University in 2012. After graduating, she worked as a PostDoctoral Researcher in Argonne National Laboratory, at the Center for Nanoscale Materials. In 2016, she joined the University of North Texas as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. Her research focuses on understanding fundamental aspects of friction, wear, and lubrication of materials with a larger vision of how this knowledge can be applied in practice. She has published more than 70 papers in peer-reviewed journals and 2 book chapters. She also holds more than 10 patents (both US and International). Among her awards are TechConnect Innovation Awards, Ralph E Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award, Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Early Career Award, UNT Early Career Professorship Award, UNT Research and Innovation Award, and NSF Early Career Award.

CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS

  • Friction
  • Wear
  • Lubrication
  • Nanostructured materials
  • Sensing devices

For Prospective Graduate Students

Apply to the Graduate Program in Materials Science & Engineering

CURRENT GRANT-FUNDED PROJECTS

  • National Science Foundation, CMMI, "CAREER: Manufacturing of Mechanically Stable Nanoporous Ceramic Structures Via Selective Infiltration of Polymer Templates", Amount: $500,000, 03/2021-02/2026, sole PI.
  • National Science Foundation, DMR, "Collaborative Research: Combined Tribological and Bactericidal Effect of Bioinjectable Nanodiamonds on Biological Joints", Amount: $ 101,896, 06/23-05/24, PI (Grant Portion: $101,896).
  • Supplement to Army Research Laboratory, "Materials for Combustion Engines", $240,000. Original Amount: $ 1,250,000, 07/20-07/24, PI (Grant Portion: $596,000).
  • Pratt & Whitney, "Tribology of Carbon Seals", Amount: $ 210,000, 05/23-12/24, PI (Grant Portion: $105,000).
  • National Science Foundation, CMMI, "NSF-BSF: Mechanochemical Reconstruction Principles for Two-Dimensional Materials", Amount: $361,378, 10/2023-09/2026, PI (Grant Portion: $361,378).

RECENT SIGNIFICANT PUBLICATIONS

  1. A. Macknojia, V.L. Montoya, E. Cairns, M. Eskandari, S. Liu, Y.-W. Chung, Q.J. Wang, S.P. Berkebile, S.M. Aouadi, A.A. Voevodin, D. Berman*: "Tribological Analysis of Steels in Fuel Environments: Impact of Alloy Content and Hardness" Appl. Sci. 14 (2024) 1898. https://doi.org/10.3390/app14051898
  2. K. Omotosho, V. Gurung, P. Banerjee, E. Shevchenko, D. Berman*: "Self-Cleaning Highly Porous TiO2 Coating Designed by Swelling-Assisted Sequential Infiltration Synthesis (SIS) of a Block Copolymer Template", Polymers 16 (2024) 308, https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16030308 .
  3. R. Al Sulaimi, M. Eskandari, A. Shirani, A. Macknojia, W. Miller, D. Berman*: "Effect of Cu and Ni Inclusion on Tribological Performance of Tribocatalytically Active Coatings in Hydrocarbon Environments" Coatings 14(1) (2024) 61, https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14010061 .
  4. A. Macknojia, A. Ayyagari, D. Zambrano, A. Rozenkranz, E.V. Shevchenko, D. Berman*: "Superlubricity Induced by MXene MoS2 Nanocomposites on Rough Steel Surfaces under High Contact", ACS Nano 17, 3 (2023) 2421, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.2c09640 .
  5. K. Omotosho, Z. Lyon, E. Shevchenko, D. Berman*:"Accessibility and Mechanical Stability of Nanoporous Zinc Oxide and Aluminum Oxide Coatings Synthesized via Infiltration of Polymer Templates", Polymers 15 (2023) 4088, https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15204088 .
  6. A. Macknojia, C. McCoy, V. Montoya, E. Cairns, N. Murthy, S. Berkebile, S. Aouadi, A. Voevodin, D. Berman*: "Tribological Evaluation of Additively Manufactured Steels for Applications in Fuel Environments", ARL-TR-9833 (2023)
  7. V. Hammond, T. Cain, J. Ligda, P. Moy, N. Murthy, B. Powers, T. Walter, M. Ferrera, C. McCoy, D. Berman: "Evaluation of Additively Manufactured Ultrahard Steels", ARL-TR-9832 (2023)
  8. A. Shirani, R. Al Sulaimi, A. Macknojia, M. Eskandari, D. Berman*: "Tribocatalytically-active nickel/cobalt phosphorous films for universal protection in a hydrocarbon-rich environment." Scientific Reports, 13(1) (2023) 10914, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-37531-0 .
  9. A. Macknojia, A. Ayyagari, E. Shevchenko, D. Berman*: "MXene/graphene oxide nanocomposites for friction and wear reduction of rough steel surfaces". Scientific Reports, 13(1) (2023) 11057, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-37844-0 .
  10. R. Al Sulaimi, A. Macknojia, M. Eskandari, A. Shirani, B. Gautam, W. Park, P. Whitehead, A. Alonso, J. Sedbrook, K. Chapman, D. Berman*: "Evaluating the effects of very long chain and hydroxy fatty acid content on tribological performance and thermal oxidation behavior of plant-based lubricants. Tribology International, 185 (2023) 108576, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2023.108576 .
  11. K. Jacques, A. Shirani, J. Smith, T. Scharf, S. Walck, S. Berkebile, O. Eryilmaz, A. Voevodin, S. Aouadi, D. Berman*: "MoVN-Cu Coatings for In-Situ Tribocatalytic Formation of Carbon-Rich Tribofilms in Low-Viscosity Fuels", ACS Appl Mater Interf 15, 25 (2023) 30070, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.3c01953 .
  12. A. Shirani, S. Berkebile, D. Berman*: "Promoted high-temperature lubrication and surface activity of polyolester lubricant with added phosphonium ionic liquid", Tribol Intern 180 (2023), 108287, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2023.108287 .
  13. K. Omotosho, J. Tran, E.V. Shevchenko, D. Berman*: "Polymer infiltration synthesis of inorganic nanoporous coatings: Does polymer template affect their properties?", Surf Coat Technol 452 (2023), 129107 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2022.129107 .
  14. E. Cairns, A. Ayyagari, C. McCoy, S. Berkebile, D. Berman*, S.M. Aouadi, A.A. Voevodin: "Tribological Behavior of Molybdenum Disulfide and Tungsten Disulfide Sprayed Coatings in Low Viscosity Hydrocarbon Environments", Tribol Intern 179 (2023), 108206, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2022.108206 .
  15. G. Gamboa, Z. Wright, D. Berman, S. Aouadi, M. Young, N. Ku, R. Brennan: "Experimental investigation and simulation of Al/B4C metal matrix composites produced using magnetic field-assisted freeze-casting of porous ceramic structurest", MRS Advances (2023) 1-7, https://doi.org/10.1557/s43580-023-00502-8 .
  16. K. Gao, W. Bin, D. Berman, Y. Ren, L. Yilong; J. Luo, G. Xie: "Self-adaptive Macroscale Superlubricity Based on the Tribocatalytic Properties of Partially Oxidized Black Phosphorus", Nano Letters, 23, 15 (2023) 6823, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c00611 .
  17. S. Gaddam, R. Haridas, D. Tammana, C. Sanabria, C. Lammi, D. Berman, R. Mishra: "Double-sided friction stir welding of Nitronic-40 stainless steel for application in tokamak devices", J Mater Sci Technol (2023), 159, 170-183, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmst.2023.03.014 .

PATENTS

  1. D. Berman, S. Guha, E. Shevchenko: "Low Refractive Index Surface Layers and Related Methods." US11725275B2 (granted 2023);
  2. D. Berman, D. Zhu, O. Shenderova: "Compositions and Uses of Nanoscale Diamond Particles for Natural Joints." 17/015,246 (granted 2023);
  3. D. Berman, E. Shevchenko, S. Guha: "Porous inorganic films via polymer swelling infiltration", US 63/391,614 (2022)
  4. D. Berman, A. Shirani: "Coatings that reduce friction and wear", 63/434,211 (2022)
  5. D. Berman, A. Ayyagari, A. Macknojia: "Coatings that reduce friction and wear", 63/434,213 (2022)
  6. B. Narayanan, S. Sankaranarayanan, A.V. Sumant, M.J Cherukara, D. Berman: "Systems and methods for designing new materials for superlubricity", US 11,232,241 (granted 2022);
  7. A.V. Sumant, D. Berman, J. Choi, A. Erdemir: "Superlubricating Graphene and Graphene Oxide Films." US 11,230,681 (granted 2022);
  8. D. Berman, K. Chapman, E. Cahoon, T. Romsdahl "Liquid and Semisolid Lubricant Compositions, Methods of Making, and Uses Thereof" US 11,136,525 (granted 2021);
  9. D. Berman, E. Shevchenko, B. Diroll, M. Cargnello, E. Goodman: "Multicomponent Inorganic Porous Materials and Methods of Making the Same." US 11,123,713 B2 (granted 2021);
  10. D. Berman, D. Zhu, O. Shenderova: "Compositions and Uses of Nanoscale Diamond Particles for Artificial Joints." 17/185,513 (2021);
  11. D. Berman, K. Chapman, E. Cahoon, T. Romsdahl "Lubricant Compositions having enhanced Estolide Content, Methods of Making, and Uses Thereof." US 17/076,191 (2021)