Research

Download the Ding Research Group Brochure 

  • Tunable Terahertz Bandpass Ultrathin Metamaterials

Our research presented a new electronically tunable THz bandpass optics which is also highly transparent in the visual spectrum. Our results render an economical technique capable of treating large surface area for multi-functional metamaterials and provide a viable solution for fabrication of tunable THz lens for sensing and imaging. More details can be found in the Scientific Reports paper.  

  • High-throughput Nanostructuring of Superhydrophobic or Superwicking Surfaces for Metals

Our research in this area aims to develop an inexpensive high-throughput laser-silanization based process to fabricate micro/nanoscale structures on the metal surface to achieve multi-functionalities that combines tunable wettability, self-cleaning, antibacterial, anti-reflectivity and anti-icing. The existing technologies take a while (up to two full hours to treat a single square inch of metal) whereas this technology few tens of seconds to process the same. The main objective of our research is to understand the processing science of surface micro/nanostructure generation on the engineering metal alloys. Our results showed that surface chemistry of the micro/nanostructured surface is also equally critical to achieving target wettability condition. Similar micro/nanostructured surface with fluro-silane chemistry behaved as water repellent whereas with cyano-silane chemistry behaved as water attractive. 

YouTube Video 

 

 

Materials Processing & Modeling

 

Who We Work With

  • National Science Foundation
  • Naval Research Laboratory
  • US Army
  • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
  • Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
  • IPG Photonics
  • General Motors
  • GF Machining Solutions
  • Iowa State University
  • Purdue University
  • Penn State University
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Links