Microfluidics
Microfluidics is the science and technology of systems that manipulate small volumes of fluids in microscale channels.
Our group will focus on understanding the fundamentals of microscale flows and developing a versatile microfluidic platform for the precise engineering of materials with well-controlled shape, dimension, structure, and composition.
This technology will endow materials with well-tailored properties and functionalities to suit desired applications.
Research Area
Wettability
Wetting is ubiquitous in both nature and daily life. For example, lotus leaf is well known for the self-cleaning property arising from superhydrophobicity, on which water droplets are highly mobile. Materials with tailored wettability hold great promise for a range of applications, such as anti-icing, anti-fouling, energy & water harvesting, enhanced heat transfer, etc. We focus on understanding the fundamentals of wetting phenomena, developing superwettable surfaces by design, and expanding their application horizons.
Small-Scale Robotics
One of the trends in robotics is to develop smaller, lighter, faster, softer, smarter, and stronger systems. Small-scale robotics represent an emerging field with wide potential applications from energy storage and environmental remediation to health diagnostics and medical interventions. Our group will focus on the design and manufacture of next-generation small-scale robotic devices, such as micromotors, microswimmers, soft actuators, and artificial muscles.