Research

Our research areas are highly interdisciplinary, focusing on micro-/nano- engineered surfaces and interfaces, thermal and fluid science, transport and self-assembly of colloidal nanoparticles, combined with scalable micro/nanomanufacturing. More specifically:

(1) High resolution inkjet and electrohydrodynamic printing for functional devices and printing beyond 3D

The market for printed electronics, including organics, inorganics and composites, will rise from $29.80 billion in 2015 to $73.69 billion in 2025. As a low cost, scalable microfabrication method, inkjet printing technology provides significant advantages in making patterns and devices, with fewer process steps and less material waste, the ability to integrate into a high throughput and roll-to-roll manufacturing process, and compatibility with various conductive, semiconducting, and dielectric inks to fabricate functional electronic devices. The objective of this study is to advance the fundamental understanding of inkjet drop dynamics and drop coalescence, self-assembly and pattern formation of various colloidal particles in evaporating inkjet droplets, under capillary/thermal/electrostatic stimuli, with the goal of developing scalable printing techniques to fabricate high resolution functional devices and 3D nano structures, through inkjet and electrohydrodynamic printing.

(2) Micro/nano engineered surfaces and interfaces for applications of self-cleaning, drag reduction, and filtration

Different wetting behaviors, such as super-repellency and super-wetting, have recently generated immense commercial and academic interests due to their wide applicability in various fields where liquid-solid interactions are involved. In this study, we aim to enhance the fundamental understanding of the structure-property relationship of surface 3D topography and wettability, the impaled liquid-air interface and its role in wetting stability, fluid flow and drag reduction, water/oil transport, and filtration, etc.