Liwei Lin (Advisor)

Research Advised by Professor Liwei Lin

Lin Group:  List of Projects | List of Researchers

BPN574: On-Chip Micro-Inductor

Kisik Koh
Chen Yang
2015

On-chip inductors are key passive elements to high-power and radio frequency (RF) integrated circuits (ICs). This project aims to realize super-compact on-chip micro-inductor with magnetic media for high-power and RF IC's, including: 1) to explore low-loss, high resonance frequency magnetic material for inductor application; 2) to develop magnetic-material integration process; 3) to realize the super-compact magnetic-embedded inductor. The long-term objectives for this project are to resolve the current problem of lacking compact-size high-performance on-chip inductors, and then...

BPN784: Aluminum Gallium Nitride 2DEG Sensors and Devices

Kaiyuan Yao
2015

Two dimensional electron gas (2DEG) and hole gas (2DHG) can be induced at the interface of epitaxial AlGaN/GaN due to spontaneous and piezoelectric polarization. Such electronic system features high transport mobility, carrier density and piezoelectric sensitivity. Mechanical strain and vibrations of devices can be transduced to electronic signals in embeded 2DEG for further processing. In this project, we study physical properties of this strongly-coupled electromechanical system, and develop possible devices such as pressure sensor, MEMS resonator, ultrasonic transducer, etc....

BPN737: Graphene-Based Microliter-Scale Microbial Fuel Cells

Vishnu Jayaprakash
Roseanne Warren
Casey Glick
2015

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are energy harvesters that use the anaerobic respiration of microorganisms to generate electricity. With the increase in demand for micro-scale, low power output energy harvesters over the last five years, microliter-scale microbial fuel cells (µMFCs) have received a great deal of scientific interest. Previously, researchers have operated these fuel cells under controlled anodic conditions to attain high current densities and columbic efficiencies. However, relatively low power outputs, inadequate working potentials, complex fabrication processes and...

BPN775: Integrated Microfluidic Circuitry via Optofluidic Lithography

Kevin Korner
Casey Glick
2015

Mechanical engineering methods and microfabrication techniques offer powerful means for solving biological challenges. In particular, microfabrication processes enable researchers to develop technologies at scales that are biologically relevant and advantageous for executing biochemical reactions. Here, optofluidic lithography- based methodologies are employed to develop autonomous single-layer microfluidic components, circuits, and systems for chemical and biological applications.

Project end date: 09/19/15

BPN736: Design and Fabrication of High Performance Supercapacitors

Roseanne H. Warren
2015

This work presents the first demonstration of atomic layer deposition (ALD) ruthenium oxide (RuO2) and its conformal coating onto vertically aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) forests as supercapacitor electrodes. Specific accomplishments include: (1) successful demonstration of ALD RuO2 deposition, (2) uniform coating of RuO2 on a vertically aligned CNT forest, and (3) an ultra-high specific capacitance of 100 mF/cm2 from prototype electrodes with a scan rate of 100 mV/s. Advantages of the ALD method include precise control of the RuO2 layer thickness and composition without the use of...

BPN796: Low Reynolds Number Mixing using 3D Printed Microfluidics

Casey C. Glick
Eric C. Sweet
Kevin A. Korner
Yash Attal
Gregory Slatton
Ryan Jew
Josh Chen
2016

Mixing in microfluidic devices has long presented challenges due to the lack of significant turbulence at low Reynolds numbers. Although ample theoretical work has demonstrated methods to enhance microfluidic mixing (e.g., increasing vorticity, arranging chaotic flow profiles), many of these methods are difficult to achieve in practical microfluidic devices, requiring 2D approximations to fully 3D mixing enhancements. In this work, we will show that various designs for enhanced mixing are easily achievable using 3D printing. We will compare the performance of several different mixer...

BPN706: Single-Layer Microfluidic Gain Valves via Optofluidic Lithography

Casey C. Glick
Kevin Korner
2016

This project aims to create single-layer microfluidic gain valves for use in microfluidic devices. Autonomous microfluidic devices are essential for the long-term development of versatile biological and chemical platforms; however, the challenges of creating effective control mechanisms – e.g., the need for variable pressure sources, signal degradation in cascaded devices, and multi-stage manufacture methods – have proven considerable. Using in situ optofluidic lithography, we develop a single-layer pressure-based valve system with a static gain greater than unity. We will...

BPN787: 3D-Printed Molds for Rapid Assembly of PDMS-based Microfluidic Devices

Casey C. Glick
2016

In this work, we demonstrate the use of 3D-printed molds for fabricating PDMS-based microfluidic devices. 3D Printing allows for the fabrication of molds that are not monolithic in structure, and therefore represents a significant improvement over the capabilities of standard soft lithography; with 3D-printed molds, we can fabricate most features commonly generated by soft lithography in addition to formerly difficult features such as domes and variable-sized channels. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this technique can be used to generate microfluidic devices molded on both sides -...

BPN841: Fast-Response Silver Passive Temperature Sensor via Electro-Hydrodynamic (EHD) Printing Method

Hyung-Seok Jang
2016

Electro-Hydrodynamic (EHD) Printing based direct write method has been demonstrated that the efficient fabrication process for the fast-response and super-thin silver (Ag) passive temperature sensor. For the direct write Ag passive temperature sensor, biological polymer was applied for efficient Ag nanostructure formation, and the EHD Printer directly eject and deposit this Ag precursor ink on the substrate. During annealing process this Ag passive sensor rapidly produce the 2D nanoparticles from the air/water interface and directly sintered to Ag thin film patterns in 200oC. This...

BPN845: 3D Printed Finger-Powered Microfluidic Pump and Mixer

Eric C. Sweet
Ilbey Karakurt
Rudra R. Mehta
2016

Low-powered microfluidic systems have been demonstrated in a variety of point-of-care biomedical diagnostic applications; however, the potential for the widespread commercial applicability of this technology, the requirement for being portable, disposable and inexpensive, is greatly hindered by the nearly-ubiquitous need for bulky and expensive externally- powered pressure sources needed to pump fluids through such devices. Furthermore, as advanced additive manufacturing techniques such as micro/nano-scale 3D printing are becoming more widely used in BioMEMS manufacturing,...