Nanotechnologies at SEAS

Micropropulsion and Nanotechnology Lab (MpNL): Professor Michael Keidar's MpNL conducts advanced fundamental and applied research in micropropulsion for micro and nanosatellites, and plasma nanoscience and nanotechnology. Current projects include the synthesis of single-wall carbon nanotubes with controlled conductivity, the synthesis of graphene with controlled number of layers, and the manufacturing of ultracapacitor devices based on the nanotubes and graphene.

Institute for MEMS and VLSI Technology: MEMS research at GWU is focused on using different technologies combined with pre- and/or post-processing steps. Several devices have been realized using CMOS technology, including RF MEMS devices, power sensors, SAW gas sensors, and many others. The research group uses CMOS to add active circuitry to the sensor, hence creating a complete system.

Multiscale Material Modeling Laboratory (M3 Lab): The M3 lab conducts research in nanoscience and continuum physics. The specific research areas are: 1) multiple length/time scale modeling and simulation of multi-physics; 2) advanced finite element algorithm for finite strain nonlocal elastic-plastic material systems; and 3) biomechanics including active stress, biological growth, and solid-fluid interaction. Read more about the lab's director, Professor James Lee.

Computational Materials Science and Molecular Modeling Lab: The lab's current research focuses on several fundamental problems in computational materials science at nanometer scales, in particular, the surface and interfacial science problems. Research projects include the structure and dynamics of liquids under nanometer confinement, hydration force and hydrophobic interactions in aqueous system, the clay swelling mechanism, and nanotribology--the science of adhesion, friction and lubrication at nanometer scales. In collaboration with experimentalists, we are also working on the anti-fouling mechanism in water purification, the mechanical property of molecular junctions in molecular electronics devices, and nano-contact mechanics in the atomic force microscope. The lab's principal investigator is Professor Yongsheng Leng.

Nanophotonics and Microfluidics Lab: Our research interests focus on optofluidics, an emerging field integrating nanophotonics and microfluidics. On one hand, the microfluidic liquid manipulation enables novel nanophotonic properties not available with solid-state materials. For example, using this approach we have made one of the world's smallest liquid lasers on a chip. On the other hand, the on-chip integration of photonic and fluidic functions leads to highly compact and integrated biosensing devices, e.g. handheld blood analyzers. As a nascent field, optofluidics offers many opportunities awaiting exploration and holds great potential for helping realize the long-sought dream of integrated lab-on-a-chip systems.

Bioengineering Laboratory for Nanomedicine and Tissue Engineering: Professor Lijie Grace Zhang's lab applies a range of interdisciplinary technologies and approaches in nanotechnology, stem cells, tissue engineering, biomaterials, and drug delivery for various biomedical applications. The main ongoing research projects include: designing biologically inspired nanostructured scaffolds for bone, cartilage, osteochondral and neural tissue regenerations; directing stem cell differentiation in 3-D biomimetic scaffolds for regenerative medicine; developing sustained drug formulations for long term and controlled drug release at disease or cancer sites; and investigating novel nano drug delivery systems with cold plasma for cancer treatments.