Biography: Dr. Sarah E Du earned a Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in 2011. She received her postdoctoral training in the Nanomechanics Lab at MIT between 2011 to 2014. After that, she joined Florida Atlantic University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering. Her research areas include microfluidics, biomechanics/biophysics, water transport in composite materials and material degradation.

Topic: Modeling of Water Absorption in Fiber-reinforced Polymer Composites

Abstract: Fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite materials are used in structural applications exposed to water. Voids and porosity may exist at the fiber/matrix interface due to imperfect bonding. Such structural defects are detrimental in the materials, as they not only reduce mechanical strength but also provide extra paths for water absorption and filling beyond moisture diffusion in matrix. As polymer matrix composite materials are gaining wide acceptance for several important structures, there has been concern about possible degradation of the performance from exposure to moisture in the form of humid air. Less considered is the influence of direct contact of the composite with liquid water. In this study, we develop a mathematical model to describe the kinetics of water uptake in unidirectional fiber reinforced resin composites containing voids. This model has been validated by the experimental results obtained from long-term water immersion.

Biography: Prof. Insu Jeon received his B.S in Mechanical Design Engineering from Pusan National University and M.S and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in 1993 and 2000, respectively. He joined the School of Mechanical Engineering at Chonnam National University in 2006 as a faculty member. His research interests include fracture mechanics, biomechanics, and soft materials.

Topic: Stretchable and Self-Healing Hydrogels

Abstract: Hydrogels are materials that consist of crosslinked polymer networks dispersed in water. While a number of promising properties, such as biocompatibility and environmental friendliness, responsiveness to external stimuli, adhesion, and biodegradability have been integrated into hydrogels, the relatively poor mechanical and self-healing property of hydrogels remain a challenge, impeding their use in real-world applications that require mechanical integrity. Here, we report that two interesting polymer networks with noncovalent crosslinks can lead to superior stretchability and damage recovery. These networks allows the hydrogels to stretch up to 100 and 40 times their initial length, respectively and to completely self-heal within 30 s and 5 s without external energy input, respectively.

Biography: Dr. Shahid Mehmood is currently pursuing his post-doctoral fellowship in Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), UM Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Centre (UMPEDAC), Wisma R&D University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He has completed his master degree leading to Ph.D. in Physics (material Science) from University of Malaya. He earned his first master’s degree in electronics (Applied physics) from Sarhad University of Science and information technology, Peshawar, Pakistan and bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics as major subject from, Government postgraduate college, Haripur, KPK, Pakistan. He is the author of 24 research articles and presented international conferences. His area of research interested is material design for energy storage and conversion applications also electrochemical sensors.

Topic: Metal Oxide Based Binary and Ternary Nanocomposites for Electrochemical Applications

Abstract: Recently, more attention has been given to controlling the morphology of the metal oxide nanostructures in the synthesis because the novel functionalities of nanostructures depend not only on their compositions but also on their shapes and sizes. Therefor, best responded morphology of metal oxide for different technological application can be further employed by doping with other available material such as carbon support and metal deposition, which can further enhance the properties of metal oxides. Hence binary and ternary nanocomposites can be synthesized and used for energy storage and conversion application as well as for electrochemical applications. In our studies we have started from Co3O4 nanostructures and then compared the performance of all synthesizes nanostructures based on their electrochemical application studies. The work was further extended by using graphene as conducting platform for Co3O4 nanostructure, and the synthesized material was used as a catalyst for energy application. The further step includes the synthesis of ternary nanocomposite which was accomplished by the deposition of minimal amount of metal nanoparticles and used for electrochemical sensing application.

Biography: With a PhD (Distinction) in Experimental Physics from Center for Ionics, University of Malaya, (CIUM), Department of Physics, University of Malaya (UM), I am currently working as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center of Micro-Nano System, SIST, Fudan University, Shanghai, China and visiting Research Fellow at Graphene and Advanced 2D Materials Research Group, Sunway University, Malaysia. My core research is focused on preparation and application of 2D materials in energy storage and conversion devices. Particularly, I work on the preparation of solid/gel polymer electrolytes for electrical double layer capacitors and novel electrode materials for hybrid supercapacitors. Besides, I have proven track record of expertise in device engineering, fabrication, characterization and fundamental physics of energy storage devices such as supercapacitors and batteries. So far, I have published 44 high impact peer- reviewed original research articles in highly reputable journals (Tier-1) such as; Sensors and Actuators B, Microchimica Acta, RSC advance and Electrochimica Acta, and in most of my work, I led the work as first author. Additionally, I am editing two books entitled; ‘Advances in Supercapattery: An Innovative Energy Storage Device’ and Contemporary Nanomaterials in Material Engineering Applications’.

Topic: Development of Binary and Ternary Nanocomposites for Electrochemical Energy Storage Application

Abstract: Nanotechnology is arguably the most revolutionary field of the 20th century, as it exposed new frontiers of technology. The application of nanomaterials have dominated almost all of the field of applications. Transition metal oxide nanostructure is a unique class of nanomaterials which emerged on the horizon of nanotechnology as a shining star. Due to extraordinary physical, chemical, optical and magnetic properties of metal oxide nanostructures, they have a wide range of applications in industry, pharmacy and optoelectronics. Beside metal oxide nanostructures, carbon is naturally occurring element which bears a number of auspicious characteristic properties that makes it an ideal building block in various electrochemical applications. Herein, a library of conductive matrix (conducting polymers, graphene and carbon nanotubes) based nanocomposite platforms, such as carbon supported nanostructured metal oxides for high energy density supercapattery. The metal oxides/phosphates with a large surface area to volume ratio have excellent theoretical capacity, low bandgape and rapid electron transfer kinetics, which make them suitable for electrochemical energy storage devices. Moreover, their low-cost, facile synthesis, durability and diverse morphologies are the motivating features to commercialize them for energy storage. Additionally, confusion about pseudocapacitors and battery grade materials will be explained.