Liwei Lin (Advisor)

Research Advised by Professor Liwei Lin

Lin Group:  List of Projects | List of Researchers

BPN702: A Continuous-Flow Microdroplets Lysis System

Kosuke Iwai
Ryan D. Sochol
2014

This Project aims for developing a versatile continuous-flow system for lysing microdroplet. Microdroplets have been widely utilized in diverse chemical and biological research and applications such as DNA sequencing or nanoparticle synthesis. Although highly robust and easy handling techniques of droplets are essential for those purposes, difficulties still remain in retrieving inner contents (e.g. cells, microbeads, biomolecules, reagents) of droplets for further experiments. Here we present a novel microfluidic system to achieve three distinctive accomplishments: (i) guiding...

BPN586: Integrated Finger-Powered Microfluidic Pumps for Point-of-Care Diagnostics

Kosuke Iwai
Ryan D. Sochol
2014

This project aims for developing a new 'human-powered' microfluidic system for point-of-care diagnostics applications. Chip- based microfluidics offers a promising platform for biological studies; however, bulky and expensive equipments such as syringe pumps limit the application. To minimize the total setup, we propose an alternative 'human-powered' fluid pumping device. Pressure generated by human finger works as a major power source to pump fluids into microfluidic devices without any electricity. As we use common softlithography fabrication process, our system can be easily...

BPN687: Robust Optical Flame Detection in Harsh Environments

Kaiyuan Yao
2014

The goal of this project is to create a UV sensor for use as a flame detection system in gas turbine engine applications. In many gas-turbine engines, unnecessary engine shutdowns arise from sensors failing to detect the engine flame because of deep films of oil and/or water that block the sensor. In the infrared- and visible-light regions of the optical spectrum there is limited penetration through oil/water mixtures. A UV sensor is to be designed that will be able to robustly detect flames through oil/water mixtures that may build up on lenses in the gas turbine engine. For this...

BPN715: Stimuli Responsive Capsules for Drug Delivery and Diagnostic Applications

Chen Yang
2014

Particulate-based vaccines offer a safer alternative to traditional organism-based vaccines; however, their effectiveness to provoke immune response largely depends on the micro/nano- delivery systems carrying the antigen. In this project, we introduce a new class of functional microcapsules that offer the potential to not only overcome a number of hurdles associated with current particulate vaccine manufacturing technology (e.g., exposure of antigens to organic solvents or degradation during encapsulation), but also enable new functionalities for transporting the microcapsules and...

BPN606: Carbon Nanotube Films for Energy Storage Applications

Alina Kozinda
Caiwei Shen
2014

As energy demands continue to rise, it becomes imperative to develop efficient energy storage devices with high energy and power density. At the same time, the space inside devices continues to shrink, making energy storage devices which possess not only high energy/power density, but also an adjustable shape to fit into various form factors an ideal solution. Energy storage devices made from flexible electrodes are attractive in a roll-up or surface-conformed format to minimize space usage. A mechanically flexible CNT supercapacitor electrode is demonstrated, as well as a lithium-...

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...

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...

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....

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...