Postdoctoral scholar with Professor Bozhi Tian at the Chemistry Department of the University of Chicago.

Precise surface engineering for advanced bio-thermal-fluidic technologies

Abstract:

Precise engineering of "non-covalent" surface interactions has a significant impact on biotechnology, energy, and manufacturing. A major challenge we are facing is how to probe such weak, atomic-scale interactions with macroscopic system, and subsequently translate the fundamental insights into tangible products that benefit sustainability and human health.

In this seminar, I will first present my surface designs that facilitate robust dropwise condensation, a goal pursued by the energy industry for almost a century but with limited progress. With new Van der Waals structures and vitrimer chemistry, my developed coatings can enhance the energy efficiency of steam-based power plants under harsh conditions for an unprecedented lifetime. These coatings are currently being tested and implemented in real power plants in Illinois.

Next, I will discuss my work in surface engineering that bridge thermofluids and bioelectronics for the development of biosensing technologies. I will introduce a condensation-integrated biosensing platform that can rapidly detect dilute airborne biomarkers. The portable and affordable system is convenient for daily usage, and benefits people in limited-resource areas. The platform can be utilized for important healthcare applications including pediatric care, early diagnosis of respiratory diseases, pain-free management of diabetes, and public health monitoring.

I will then focus on the fundamental aspects and introduce several new surface measurement apparatuses using “elasto-capillarity”. These apparatuses allow precise measurement of atomic-scale surface interactions on a macroscopic level, which reveal unexplored avenues in surface design and will provide valuable insights for biotechnology, energy, and manufacturing.