Using Light Beams to ‘Write’ Polymer Composites for Waterproofing and Battery Applications

January 14, 2025
Stoney's British Pub

3007 Concord Pike
Wilmington, DE

7:30pm

Shreyas S. Pathreeker
University of Pennsylvania
“Using Light Beams to ‘Write’ Polymer Composites for Waterproofing and Battery Applications”
 

There has been significant interest in synthetically mimicking Mother Nature’s way of making functional materials using structural motifs like pillars, bumps, and patterns (e.g., insect eyes, Lotus leaves, etc.). However, most of these synthetic methods have drawbacks that limit their scalability. In this talk, I will introduce a unique method known as light–based–‘writing’ of polymer composites, which is more amenable to scale–up. I will first discuss the principle that underpins this optical process. Next, I will show that judiciously leveraging thermodynamics and kinetics allows control over nanoparticle location and structure, which ultimately dictate material function. Finally, I will conclude by discussing some exemplary materials created using this light–based process, with application in waterproof surfaces, batteries, and stimuli–responsiveness.