TOPIC: Bio-inspired Highly Sensitive and Reversible Mechanochromisms Based on a Polymer Bilayer Structure
SPEAKER: Luyi Sun, Associate Professor, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Polymer Program, Institute of Materials Science at the University of Connecticut
TIME:OCTOBER 15 (Thursday) PM13:30
LOCATION: Fifth-floor Lecture Hall, Chemistry Building A (化学A楼5楼演讲厅)
INVITER: Prof. Sixun Zheng (郑思珣教授)
 

Abstract: A series of scalable, simple, and low cost elastomer based bilayer systems with a rigid surface layer of polymer nanocomposite were designed and prepared. The bilayer systems exhibit different surface morphologies and strain-responsive properties by forming micro-cracks or wrinkles on the top surface. Although cracks and wrinkles are typically considered as defects and mechanical instabilities, respectively, to be avoided in most cases, proper control of the formation and evolution of micro-cracks and wrinkles can lead to many novel functionalities. With the assistance of modeling, we created a series of highly sensitive and reversible mechanochromisms. Upon uniaxial stretch and release, as well as additional stimuli if needed, the devices can reversibly switch the topography between flattening surface and rough morphology with micro-cracks or wrinkles, resulting in striking optical changes, including changes in transparency, luminescence, and coloration, promising for widespread application.
 

教授简介：

Dr. Luyi Sun is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Polymer Program, Institute of Materials Science at the University of Connecticut. His current research focuses on the design and synthesis of nano-structured multifunctional materials for various applications, with an emphasis on energy and environmental engineering. Dr. Sun has published more than one hundred (100) peer-reviewed journal articles and two (2) book chapters. He is the inventor/co-inventor of thirty five (35) International and US patents/patent applications. Many of his patents have been licensed or commercialized. The scientific results by Dr. Sun have been reported by major media including Chemical & Engineering News of the American Chemical Society and Plastics Engineering magazine of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE).

Dr. Sun is the President of the Chinese American Society of Plastics Engineers (since 2013) and the Chairman of the Engineering Properties & Structure Division of the SPE. Dr. Sun has served as the Chair for the Composites Division of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE, 2012-2013), and the Vice President of the Chinese American Chemical Society-Southwest Chapter (2011-2013). In the past few years, Dr. Sun has participated in the organization of over thirty (30) international/national conferences, and chaired many sessions.