A5010392710- Liquid Crystal Research Advancements
- Advanced Materials and Mechanics
- Photonic Crystals and Applications
- 3D Printing in Biomedical Research
- Pickering emulsions and particle stabilization
- Rheology and Fluid Dynamics Studies
- Surfactants and Colloidal Systems
- Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
- Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies
- Molecular spectroscopy and chirality
- Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- Supramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials
- Fluid Dynamics and Turbulent Flows
- Advancements in Battery Materials
- Micro and Nano Robotics
- MXene and MAX Phase Materials
- Mesenchymal stem cell research
- Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications
- Nonlinear Dynamics and Pattern Formation
- Biocrusts and Microbial Ecology
- Electromagnetic wave absorption materials
- Bone Tissue Engineering Materials
- Ionic liquids properties and applications
- Probabilistic and Robust Engineering Design
- Diatoms and Algae Research
University of South Carolina
2020-2025
University of Chicago
2015-2021
Argonne National Laboratory
2017-2019
Harvard University
2013-2014
Shahid Beheshti University
2014
ETH Zurich
2011-2012
University of Mazandaran
2011
Effective bone tissue engineering can restore and skeletal functions that are impaired by traumas and/or certain medical conditions. Bone is a complex through orchestrated interactions between cells, biomechanical forces, biofactors. To identify ideal scaffold materials for effective mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based regeneration, here we develop characterize composite nanoparticle hydrogel combining carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCh) amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) (designated as CMCh-ACP...
Chiral nematic liquid crystals are known to form blue phases-liquid states of matter that exhibit ordered cubic arrangements topological defects. Blue-phase specimens, however, generally polycrystalline, consisting randomly oriented domains limit their performance in applications. A strategy relies on nano-patterned substrates is presented here for preparation stable, macroscopic single-crystal blue-phase materials. Different template designs conceived exert control over different planes the...
Liquid crystals (LCs) can serve as sensitive reporters of interfacial events, and this property has been used for sensing synthetic or biological toxins. Here it is demonstrated that LCs distinguish distinct molecular motifs exhibit a specific response to beta‐sheet structures. That detect the formation highly toxic protofibrils involved in neurodegenerative diseases, where crucial develop methods probe early‐stage aggregation amyloidogenic peptides vicinity membranes. In proposed method,...
Microbial communities are found throughout the biosphere, from human guts to glaciers, soil activated sludge. Understanding statistical properties of such diverse can pave way elucidate common mechanisms ...Multiple ecological forces act together shape composition microbial communities. Phyloecology approaches—which combine phylogenetic relationships between species with community ecology—have potential disentangle but often ...
Architected materials with nano/microscale orders can provide superior mechanical properties; however, reproducing such levels of ordering in complex structures has remained challenging. Inspired by Bouligand nature, here, 3D printing geometries guided long-order radially twisted chiral hierarchy, using cellulose nanocrystals (CNC)-based inks is presented. Detailed rheological measurements, situ flow analysis, polarized optical microscopy (POM), and director field analysis are employed to...
Numerous applications of liquid crystals rely on control molecular orientation at an interface. However, little is known about the precise structure such interfaces. In this work, synchrotron X-ray reflectivity measurements, accompanied by large-scale atomistic dynamics simulations, are used for first time to reconstruct air-liquid crystal interface a nematic material, namely, 4-pentyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl (5CB). The results compared those 4-octyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl (8CB) which, in addition...
Liquid-crystal blue phases (BPs) are highly ordered at two levels. Molecules exhibit orientational order nanometer length scales, while chirality leads to arrays of double-twisted cylinders over micrometer scales. Past studies polycrystalline BPs were challenged by the existence grain boundaries between randomly oriented crystalline nanodomains. Here, nucleation is controlled with precision relying on chemically nanopatterned surfaces, leading macroscopic single-crystal BP specimens where...
Studying the flow-induced alignment of anisotropic liquid crystalline materials is major importance in 3D printing advanced architectures. However, situ characterization and quantitative measurements local orientations during process are challenging. Here, we report a microfluidic strategy integrated with polarized optical microscopy (POM) to perform cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) under shear-flow condition printer's nozzle direct ink writing process. To quantify alignment, exploited...
Mechanical strain, curvature, and elasticity lead to the emergence of exotic molecular configurations in chiral liquid crystals.
The ordered environment presented by liquid crystals at interfaces enables a range of novel functionalities that is only now beginning to be exploited in applications ranging from light focusing devices biosensors. One key feature molecular events occurring an interface propagate over large distances through the bulk. In spite their importance, our fundamental understanding crystal–water and crystal–air remains limited. this work, we present results large-scale atomistic dynamics simulations...
Graphene-based materials are used in many fields but have found only limited applications biomedicine, including bone tissue engineering. Here, we demonstrate that novel hybrid consisting of gelatin-derived graphene and silicate nanosheets Laponite (GL) biocompatible promote osteogenic differentiation mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Homogeneous cell attachment, long-term proliferation, MSCs on a GL-scaffold were confirmed using optical microscopy scanning electron microscopy. GL-powders made...
Abstract Precisely crafted hierarchical architectures found in naturally derived biomaterials underpin the exceptional performance and functionality showcased by host organism. In particular, layered helical assemblies composed of cellulose, chitin, or collagen serve as foundation for some most mechanically robust visually striking natural materials. By utilizing structured materials additive manufacturing techniques such extrusion‐based 3D printing, intrinsic deformation process can be used...
Abstract Solid electrolytes are critical for structural batteries, combining energy storage with strength applications like electric vehicles and aerospace. However, achieving high ionic conductivity remains challenging, compounded by a lack of standardized testing methodologies. This study examines the impact experimental setups data interpretation methods on measured conductivities solid polymer (SPEs). SPEs were prepared using polymer-induced phase separation process, resulting in...
Abstract Blue phases (BPs), formed through the self‐assembly of chiral liquid crystal molecules into 3D nanolattices with cubic symmetries, exhibit dynamic photonic bandgaps in visible spectrum, offering transformative opportunities for advanced optical circuits, sensing and communication technologies. However, their thermal stability is restricted to a narrow temperature range (0.5–1.0 K), limiting practical applications. Polymer stabilization bulk BPs has extended but often compromises...
Structural batteries, also known as “massless batteries”, integrate energy storage directly into load-bearing materials, offering a transformative alternative to traditional Li-ion batteries. Unlike conventional systems that serve only devices, structural batteries replace passive components, reducing overall weight while providing mechanical reinforcement. However, achieving uniform and efficient coatings of active materials on carbon fibers remains major challenge, limiting their...
Rapid evolution of smart devices necessitates high-performance, lightweight materials for effective electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets are promising such applications, yet the high solid content typically required 3D-printable inks limits their scalability and cost efficiency. In this study, we present an MXene-based ink with ultralow (0.1 vol %) a water (up to 98 wt enabled by cross-linked poly(acrylic acid) Carbopol microgels. The microgels facilitate...
Liquid crystals are important components of optical technologies. Cuboidal consisting chiral liquid crystals-the so-called blue phases (BPs), particular interest due to their crystalline structures and fast response times, but it is critical that control be gained over phase behavior as well the underlying dislocations grain boundaries arise in such systems. Blue exhibit cubic symmetries with lattice parameters 100 nm range a network disclination lines can polymerized widen temperatures...
Hybrid materials based on transition metal carbide and nitride (MXene) nanosheets have great potential for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding due to their excellent electrical conductivity. However, the performance of final products depends not only properties constituent components but also morphology assembly. Here, via controlled diffusion positively charged poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) chains into negatively Ti3C2Tx MXene suspension, MXene/PAH hybrids in forms thin...
Helical hierarchy found in biomolecules like cellulose, chitin, and collagen underpins the remarkable mechanical strength vibrant colors observed living organisms. This study advances integration of helical/chiral assembly 3D printing technology, providing precise spatial control over chiral nano/microstructures rod-shaped colloidal nanoparticles intricate geometries. We designed reactive inks based on cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) suspensions acrylamide monomers, enabling at nano/microscale,...