Synthesis of Advanced Catalysts and Nanomaterials via Flash-Thermal Shock Lamping

Momentary high-temperature annealing methods (up to 3,000 K within 20-milliseconds duration) hold unforeseen scientific and technological promise in areas such as catalyst synthesis (single atoms, high-entropy alloys, and ex-solution catalysts), doping with hetero-atoms, and phase engineering on oxides. We propose a straightforward method conducted in ambient air to manipulate the physicochemical and electronic characteristics of various nanomaterials.

[Outcomes] Adv. Sci., 7, 1903318 (2020), Chem, 8 (4), 14, 1014-1033 (2022), ACS Nano, 17, 23, 23347–23358 (2023), Adv. Mater., 2305222 (2023)





























Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) Electronics

MOF-based molecular sieving: Introducing a MOF overlayer onto the surface of sensing materials endows them with gas selectivity tuning behaviors based on chemical and/or physical sieving effects. We are interested in demonstrating sieving effects through experiments and simulations (collaborating for DFT calculations & molecular dynamic simulations).

MOFs-based gas sensing: The chemical flexibility of metal nodes and organic ligands in MOFs makes them attractive for finely tuning sensitivity and selectivity across various gas analytes. Electrically conducting MOFs (cMOFs) are particularly interesting, as they adjust conductance within the framework upon interacting with guest molecules, facilitating guest identification and quantification. However, pure cMOF-based sensors often exhibit poor reversibility and sensitivity. Our goal is to overcome these limitations by employing diverse strategies, focusing on constructing cMOF-based composites.

[Outcomes] Adv. Func. Mater., 2207265 (2022), Adv. Mater., 2105869 (2022), Adv. Mater., 2312382, (2024)















Semiconducting Nanomaterials Synthesis for Sensing Applications (MEMS Sensors Array)

Inorganic semiconducting nanomaterials with well-established porosity offer enhanced gas diffusion pathways, expediting surface reactions within sensing layers. Employing sacrificial templating methods facilitates the creation of highly porous oxide nanofiber, nanotube, and hierarchical nanostructures. 

Flexible and mechanically robust gas sensors are pivotal for wearable and implantable electronics. Conjugated polymers (CPs) offer great promise in this regard, thanks to their exceptional optoelectrical properties, mechanical resilience, and ease of solution processing. The introduction of doping agents or gas-absorbing side chains onto CPs can enhance their gas-sensing capabilities. 

We are also interested in the development of a MEMS-based sensor array platform to obtain high-dimensional data sets for indexing multiple target analytes quantitatively and qualitatively. 

[Outcomes] Sens. Actuators B, 273, 1296-1277 (2018), Sens. Actuators B, 259, 616-625 (2018),  J. Mater. Chem. A, 6, 13825-13824 (2018), ACS Sens. 3, 6, 1164-1173 (2018), Small, 14, 44, 1802260 (2018), ACS Nano, 15, 9, 14207-14217 (2021), Adv. Sci., 2200270 (2022), ACS Sens. 8, 10, 3687–3692 (2023), ACS Nano, 17, 6, 5842-5851 (2023)





















Multifunctional Smart-Electronics Textiles using Nanofiber Yarn Platform

Nanofiber yarn is a promising sensing platform based on a single-strand yarn consisting of ultra high-density electrospun nanofibers which exhibits high surface-to-volume ratio and well-developed porosity. Depends on functionalization strategies of yarn, various modes of sensors can be prepared: deposition of metal or metal oxide leads to chemiresistive-type sensor, loading colorimetric dyes lead to colorimetric sensor, and so on. We are also interested in the development of multi-modal sensing in the single yarn platform as futuristic wearable sensors.

[Outcomes] ACS Nano, 13, 5, 6071-6082 (2019), ACS Nano, 14, 12, 16907–16918 (2020), Adv. Mater., 2105869 (2022), Adv. Func. Mater., 2200463 (2022)