Research

One-Dimensional (1D) Nanomaterials: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), CNTs/B4C, CNTs/SiC core/shell nanostructures, NiCo2S4, copper nanowires, ZnO nanobelts, etc. have been fabricated using hydrothermal/solvothermal reactions, electrochemical deposition, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) approaches towards various applications. Current research interest on 1D nanomaterials lies in bimetallic, trimetallic, and high-entropy alloying nanowires for catalysis.

Two-Dimensional (2D) Nanomaterials: MoS2, MoSe2, h-BN, Graphene, SnSe2, TiS2, TaS2, MoS2/WSe2 and h-BN/graphene heterostructures, MoαTaβTiγVδWεTe2 (α, β, γ, δ, ε<0,2 and α+β+γ+δ+ε=1), etc. have been synthesized via CVD and solid-state reaction (SSR) reactions. Current interest on 2D nanomaterials is limited to fabrication of heterostructures and high-entropy materials for mechanical investigation, hydrogen evolution reactions (HER), and electronic devices.

Three-Dimensional (3D) Nanomaterials: CNTs/graphene, MOFs, and metallic nanowire arrays have been fabricated with CVD, hydrothermal/solvothermal reactions, and electrochemical deposition, respectively, for either mechanical strengthening, CO2 adsorption, or water treatment. Current interest in 3D nanomaterials is to scale up nanomaterials to bulk porous structure for practical applications.  

Mechanics of Nanomaterials: 1D, 2D, and 3D nanomaterials and their hybrids have been intensively investigated as emerging materials for future devices. Mechanical stability of each nanocomponent is critical to the reliability of the fabricated devices. To date, theoretical and experimental mechanics of CNTs, CNT/SiC, CNT/B4C, MoSe2, h-BN, graphene/CNTs have been investigated through in situ and ex situ mechanical testing enabled by atomic force microscope, nanoindention, scanning and transmission electron microscopes.  

Interface Mechanics of Nanocomposites: Sustainable effort has been devoted to improving fracture toughness and fracture strength of composites and hybrid materials intrinsically and extrinsically. For example, the interface shear strength was investigated on polymer derived ceramic reinforced by either CNT or CNT deposited with noncontinuous Al2O3 and HfO2 nanoislands. The interfaced bonding strength between CNTs and graphene was also measured on CNTs/graphene.

1D, 2D, and 3D nanomaterials have been scaled up, doped, and functionalized towards energy storage, carbon dioxide capture and reduction, hydrogen generation, water desalination and air filtration. Specifically, to largely utilize abundant renewable biomass and reduce biowaste, selected biomass has been converted into porous carbon skeleton to support nanomaterials growth to build up 3D hybrid materials for practical applications.