Nanomaterials are materials with at least one of their three dimensions limited to nanometer, that is, a scale that quantum effects emerge. Two-dimensional (2D) materials is a class of nanomaterials with outstanding electrical, mechanical, chemical, and bio-transducing properties. Using methods based on chemical vapor deposition, 2D materials can be prepared in large scale (~ m) and high quality with tunable strength, transparency, disorder density, and electron transport properties.
Multiscale Materials and Manufacturing Laboratory works at the interface of materials science and advanced manufacturing. We are particularly interested in understanding the fundamental microstructure-property-processing relationships in advanced materials and integrating control over materials on different length scales (atomic structure, microstructure, architecture) through materials processing and additive manufacturing (or 3D printing), to eventually arrive at optimized, multi-functional engineering components.
The Nanoscale Interfaces, Transport, and Energy (NITE) Laboratory evaluates materials for energy transduction applications via direct, in-situ observation of local responses along critical heterophase interfaces in the operating regime.