(4mk) Advanced Material Processing and Patterning

Research Interests: New materials with advanced properties are synthesized continuously but implementing them into new technologies requires processing and patterning these materials. Compared to the synthetic methods, the processing and patterning steps have received relatively little attention. For polymers especially, these steps can drive the molecules into non-equilibrium configurations, leading to improved properties. The interplay of material structure/property/processing is ripe for fundamental studies as well as applied research to engineer next-generation technologies. In particular, I am interested in the following areas

1) The impact of processing on material properties in polymeric systems with a particular emphasis on semi-crystalline and network forming polymers.

Polymer processing often involves extensional flow, such as during jetting or fiber pulling, which causes polymer chains to distort from their equilibrium coil to an extended chain conformation. These extended conformations modulate the crystallization kinetics and material properties, as seen in materials such as Mylar. The formation of networks with these extended conformations can lead to new functionalities such as anisotropic transport or mechanical properties. This part of my research group aims to understand and quantify the deviation from equilibrium induced by the extensional flow and the impact this has on various properties.

2) The impact of polymer architecture on material processing.

Polymers often exist as linear chains, but various methods have been developed to allow the synthesis of novel architectures such as dendrimers, bottlebrush polymers and ring polymers. Even if chemically identical, these distinct polymer architectures behave differently in solution and under flow. This part of my research group will focus on developing fundamental relationships between polymer architecture and processing conditions.

3) Laser-based patterning and processing

Lasers are highly monochromatic lights sources that can be focused to small spot sizes. This combination of features makes lasers ideal for material processing and patterning. The monochromatic nature means that the responsiveness of the sample can be tuned based on if it will absorb, reflect, or transmit the laser light while the highly focused nature enables good control over the spatial patterning. Lasers also come in a range of pulse durations from femtosecond to continuous wave. The combination of a high power density with a short pulse duration enables new or metastable materials to be synthesized. Based off my graduate work, I am also interested in laser-based patterning with transient thermal gradients to produce mechanical deformations in a process called laser forming.

Teaching Interests:

My teaching interests are focused on preparing students with strong fundamentals, so they are equipped for wherever their career takes them, whether that is to a national lab, to industry or to academia. Beyond their technical skills, I want to help the students identify the role and impact that their chemical engineering knowledge has on society. To that end, my interests lie in teaching the introductory chemical engineering course as well as the undergraduate thermodynamics courses. My passion for teaching extends to the graduate students as well where I would like to teach the graduate course in mathematical methods. Beyond the core curriculum, I have an interest in developing and teaching elective courses in polymer physics/engineering, interfacial science and analysis, and a course on the intersection of chemical engineering and the law.