Topic: Recent Advancement of Nanocellulose based Multifunctional Composites
Speaker: Fellow Prof. Jaehwan Kim, Inha University, South Korea
Date: Monday, March 12, 2018
Time: 10: 00 – 11:00 am
Location: NASA/LaRC, IESB (Bldg. 2102), Rm. 262
Note: Introduction of the optical cleanroom at AMDSB follow by the seminar
Abstract: Sustainability is essential in future materials to harmonize with our living environment. Future materials should be able to maintain our resources from the environment so as to overcome degradation of natural environmental services and toxicity and pollution problems. Cellulose is one of the nature’s most abundant natural polymers, the main chemical components of wood and plants. It is a sustainable material that recycles to nature by composting with short period of time. The use of sustainable materials is essential in future technologies.This presentation reviews advancement of nanocellulose for multifunctional smart composites, including cellulose and its sensors, actuators and energy storage applications. To further improve functionality of cellulose material, hybrid composites of inorganic functional materials are introduced by incorporating carbon nanotubes, titanium dioxide and tin oxide conducting polymers and ionic liquids. Since cellulose has many advantages of biocompatible, sustainable, biodegradable, high mechanical strength and versatile modification behaviors, more research efforts need to be focused on the development of nanocellulose multifunctional composites.
Bio: Dr. Jaehwan Kim received his Ph.D. degree in Engineering Science and Mechanics from The Pennsylvania State University in 1995. In March 1996, he joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Inha University, Korea, where he serves as an Inha Fellow Professor. He has been the director of Creative Research Center for EAPap Actuator funded by National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF). Recently, he started another Creative Research Center for Nanocellulose Future Composites, sponsored by NRF. He first discovered cellulose as a smart material, which can be used for sensors, actuators and electronic materials. His research interests are smart materials, structures and devices, biomaterial based smart materials, cellulose, electroactive polymers and renewable multifunctional nanocomposites. He has published more than 270 prestigious journal papers, 300 international conference papers, more than 30 patents.
POC: Hyun Jung Kim (hyunjung.kim@nasa.gov, 757-864-2588) coordinating with Photon Sieve project team and AMDSB (Advanced Measurements and Data Systems Branch)