Research Focus

CEMS offers an environment that equips students to meet the challenges of modern engineering. Our research major research thrusts are:

• MicroChemical Systems - The concept is to design, manipulate, and control chemical reaction and separation processes that occur in micro-volume environments for specific device or process functions from a systems point of view. This research area covers a wide range of new and emerging technologies such as microfluidic biochips for proteomics, combinatorial catalyst evaluation, micro-reactor systems for on-demand chemical production, portable fuel cell systems, etc.


• Highly Filled Materials Institute - integrated modeling, experimental studies using industrial-scale processing equipment and characterization of microstructural distributions and properties over the spectrum of highly filled materials.

Areas of Research

The Materials Science Program prides itself in its research strength in areas related to surface-, film/coating-, and interface-related studies relevant to a wide range of technological applications. These areas range from biopolymers for issue engineering, thermal/environmental barrier coatings for advanced turbines, engineered nanoporous and micro-channel structures for sensors and microchemical systems, and thin films for microelectronics and photonics applications. We maintain various processing and synthesis capabilities as well as state-of-the-art materials measurement and characterization facilities.

Active research in the Chemical Engineering Program include micro-chemical systems, reaction engineering and catalysis, polymer processing and characterization, biochemical engineering, reactor-technology for stereo selective enzymatic reactions, crystallization from solution and mathematical modeling of transport processes. The department also houses the Highly Filled Materials Institute (HFMI). HFMI investigates the behavior, goodness of mixing, processibility and ultimate properties of highly filled materials including suspensions and dispersions.

Many research projects are pursued in collaboration with industrial laboratories, which permit a unique learning and training experience for students in both an academic and an industrial environment. 

Faculty Research Interests

Micro-Nano Solutions for Alternative Energy

Prof R. Besser

Professor Besser’s group researches alternatives to traditional paradigms of energy production as a path to alleviating the current dependence on petroleum and mitigating the environmental consequences. The group is currently pursuing micro- and nano-technology based solutions for improving efficiency of electrical power generation at various scales. Funded projects in reforming hydrocarbons for compact fuel cells, safely and efficiently producing oxygen for fuel cells in air-deficient environments, and improving photovoltaic efficiency through nanomaterials for anti-reflection and photon downconversion. Other projects under development include nanoengineering 3D interfaces for improved fuel cell performance, increasing reactivity of the hydrogen-oxygen interaction and improving nanomanufacturing of thin-film solar modules. Energy production technology has been dominated by a traditional engineering mindset and the overall objective of this research is to allow the energy field to benefit from the investment and progress that have been made in micro- and nanotechnology.

Fiber Optics and Nanophotonics Laboratory

Prof. H. Du

Research in the Fiber Optics and Nanophotonics Laboratory covers several frontier areas ranging from nanotechnology-enabled conventional optical fiber and photonic crystal fiber for multi-parameter sensing to plasmonic noble metal nanoparticles for field-enhanced applications. Examples of current activities include immobilization of nanoparticles using dip-pen nanolithography and molecular self-assembly to impart surface-enhanced Raman scattering functionality for fiber-optic sensing, laser inscription of long-period fiber gratings in photonic crystal fiber for immuno-sensing and resonance laser absorption spectroscopy, and guided assembly of plasmonic resonant gold nanoparticle constructs for enhanced generation of reactive species during photodynamic therapy of cancer. Research in the laboratory has both basic and applied focus. Its interdisciplinary approach offers students train opportunities cutting cross materials science, optics, surface chemistry, and biomedical engineering often in partnership with faculty colleagues in related disciplines.

Highly Filled Materials Institute

Prof. D. Kalyon

Research at the Highly Filled Materials Institute focuses on the structure, processing and properties (mixing, simulation, shaping, microstructural analysis and ultimate properties) of complex fluids and soft solids, especially polymers, gels and concentrated polymeric nanosuspensions and suspensions. The industrial applications of this research cover a wide range of industries including biomedical/tissue engineering, pharmaceutical, nanocomposites, energetics, personal care, environmental, ceramics and electronics industries.

Crystallization Laboratory

Prof. S. Kovenklioglu

Research in this laboratory principally involves mathematical modeling of crystallization from solution and modeling of heterogeneous catalytic reactors.

Microreactor Technology for Chemical Synthesis and Biofuel Generation

Prof. A. Lawal

Our research interests are primarily in two areas, namely microreactor technology for chemical synthesis and distributed production of advanced biofuels from biomass waste. The microreactor technology development focuses on the demonstration of the enhanced heat and mass transfer performance provided by microreactor in comparison to conventional-size reactors. Mass transfer enhancement of two to three orders of magnitude have been obtained for multiphase reactions carried out in single channel microreactors at low processing flow rates. As a prelude to the commercialization of the technology, there is the need to demonstrate similar superior performance at a through-put of interest to the end-users of the technology. In consequence, we have constructed a fully-automated skid-mounted multi-channel microreactor-based pilot plant for multiphase chemical synthesis. Evaluation of the system using model reactions, involving both single and multiphase systems, is currently underway. We demonstrate a transformative technology which combines innovative reactor concepts with fundamental catalytic studies and catalyst development for the distributed production of biofuel from various forms of biomass waste. Our approach comprises two key steps: (1) thermochemical conversion of biomass by fast pyrolysis to pyrolysis oil, (PO), followed by (2) upgrading of the PO to biofuel. A number of approaches are currently being investigated for the upgrading of the PO including (i) hydrodeoxygenation, (ii) (hydro)cracking and (iii) autothermal reforming (ATR) of PO to synthesis gas (H2/CO mixture), followed by Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) conversion of synthesis gas to fuel. A compelling and distinguishing attribute of our process is the flexibility of (1) converting biomass of different compositions derived from multiple sources to PO and syngas and (2) using this syngas to produce any transportation fuel: ethanol, gasoline, or diesel. Reliance on foreign oil for energy will be significantly diminished.

Microfluidics and Self-Assembly Laboratory

Prof. W. Lee

Our research interests include self-assembly, nanomaterials, biomaterials, and microfluidics. We use an array of state-of-the-art tools such as soft-lithography, inkjet printing, and layer-by-layer self-assembly to create new materials and devices. Current applications include: (1) nanomaterial synthesis and printing to miniaturize energetic and energy storage devices and (2) development of 3D tissue models as a paradigm-changing avenue of studying the systematic interactions of drugs, nanomaterials, biomaterials, and pathogens with the human body.

Laboratory for MultiScale Imaging

Prof. M. Libera
Research in the Laboratory for MultiScale Imaging (LMSI) centers on the development and application of advanced imaging techniques to study the structure of both engineered and biological materials. The LMSI combines an array of complimenting microscopies (TEM, SEM, AFM, confocal) and enables cross-platform correlative imaging and analysis. A particular area of emphasis lies with soft materials used for biomedical device applications and, within this class of problems, more specifically on issues associated with creating infection-resistant surfaces. These problems raise compelling questions relating both to the design of multifunctional surfaces that promote healing while simultaneously reducing the probability of infection as well as to the high-resolution morphological analysis of soft materials surfaces and their interactions with physiological systems.

Nanocatalysis Laboratory

Prof. S. Podkolzin

Research in the Catalytic Nanoparticles Lab focuses on reaction mechanism studies on surfaces of solid catalysts for petroleum refining and chemical industries. The scale gap between observable reaction rates and catalytic surface reactions on the nanoscale is bridged through iterative cycles of experimental catalyst characterization and testing in combination with DFT calculations. Experimental information establishes the basis for the selection of models and the level of theory for DFT calculations and then, in turn, results of the DFT calculations help to deconvolute and better interpret experimental data. In contrast with traditional catalyst models that assume a static surface, our approach of combining kinetic studies, IR and Raman spectroscopic measurements and DFT calculations with vibrational analyses allows us to develop new methodologies for describing dynamic catalytic surface changes under reaction conditions and, consequently, for a transformational improvement in the description, control and further development of catalytic processes.