JENNIFER Q. LU FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS LAB
MULTISEGMENTED POLYMERS WITH DIVERSE AND MULTIFUNCTIONAL APPLICATIONS
By integrating highly sensitive thermally responsive units into the hard segment of multisegmented polymers, we have developed low-energy drive polymeric actuators. Building on this concept, we are now working on high-contrast multisegmented polymers that act as surfactants to stabilize carbon nanotubes, enabling the formation of resins for 3D carbon nanotube-reinforced components. This innovative polymer type can self-assemble into thin film membranes, selectively enhancing battery performance by facilitating the migration of Li+ or Zn+ ions (patent filed).
CONVERGENCE OF 3D PRINTING WITH PYROLYSIS, GRAPHITIZATION, AND CERAMIC SINTERING
3D Carbon:
Lu's lab newly patented a methodology that enables high-throughput fabrication of 3D hierarchical carbon electrodes with precise control in macro-, micro-, and nano- scale. Such 3D carbon electrodes will provide high-energy and fast-charging and discharging batteries for energy storage, high-energy density fuel cells to power transportation, and facilitate green chemical production via electrification, just to names a few transformative energy applications. We are working on conceptual demonstration and technology realization.
3D Ceramics:
The Lu lab, along with collaborators, is creating functional ceramic materials derived from 3D printed polymeric templates. Employing innovative sintering techniques and surface coating methods, high-performance ceramic materials with complex 3D geometries possible only through additive manufacturing are fabricated. Such materials are set offer transformative solutions in fields from aerospace and biomedical engineering to advanced electronics.
Polymer Template
Carbon
LOW-ENERGY DRIVEN SUBMOLECULAR UNIT FOR ACTUATION AND ENERGY CONVERSION AND HARVESTING
Biological activities are controlled by highly-efficient and fully-recoverable conformational changes. Inspired by nature, we are investigating if a low-energy driven submolecular conformational change can be used for harvesting waste thermal energy and enabling heliotropism for autonomous power-free solar tracking.
HIERARCHICAL 3D FUNCTIONALIZED NANOCARBON FOR GREEN ENERGY STORAGE AND CONVERSION
We are creating free-standing hierarchical 3D electrode platforms that consist of a well-defined and reproducible 3D carbon surface grafted with engineered functional species for electrocatalysis for efficient energy conversion and energy storage.
