Research Interests
Lasers are playing a vital role in transforming various aspects of engineering, science, and technology spanning from additive manufacturing and flexible electronics to ultrafast charge dynamics and quantum sciences. The spatial and temporal tunability, controlled energy and power densities, adjustable bandwidth, and polarization of lasers enable a broad spectrum of applications that is not accessible by other means.
Our team, Laser-Assisted Science and Engineering of Emerging nanomaterials and Devices (LASE-END) lab, is establishing a state-of-the-art laser facility with the goal of becoming a laser hub for the region and beyond. We now have lasers with various time, energy, and spectral ranges enabling us to perform high-precision laser synthesis, processing, and diagnostics of various nanoscale and quantum materials and devices.
Research Program
The world of science, technology, and education is on the verge of transitioning into a new area where quantum materials and devices as well as advanced manufacturing methods play a critical role to achieve better energy sources, health technology, and security. This shift has been driven by recent progress in the discovery and synthesis of novel quantum materials as well as the development of novel manufacturing techniques for the design, fabrication, and integration of new structures and devices. Developing new synthesis and processing strategies, designing novel materials and structures, identifying properties, and exploring functionalities are broad research thrusts that provide fundamental insights into establishing the necessary process-structure-property-performance relationships for future device manufacturing needs.
The research program in my Laser-Assisted Science and Engineering of Emerging Nanomaterials and Devices (LASE-END) lab at Auburn University is focused on establishing advanced laser-based science and engineering research with an emphasis on the synthesis and fabrication of multifunctional and quantum materials, hybrid structures, and devices as well as developing real-time diagnostic apparatus and identifying their process-structure-properties relationships. My contribution to the field is the development of laser-based synthesis, processing, and spectroscopy approaches to induce chemical and physical transformations, study the fundamental laser-matter interactions, and explore the properties and performance of materials and manufactured structures for use in energy, electronics, and sensing applications. The spatial and temporal tunability, controlled energy and power densities, adjustable bandwidth, and polarization of laser beams enable a broad spectrum of applications in synthesis, processing, and in-situ/real-time imaging/spectroscopy of functional materials and structures not accessible by other means. Following are the highlights of my current and prospective research activities:
- Additive nanomanufacturing of multifunctional material and hybrid structures and devices.
- Laser-assisted synthesis and processing of two-dimensional quantum materials for electronics and energy applications.
- Laser sintering and crystallization on flexible substrates enabling the direct integration of advanced functional materials into flexible platforms.
- In-situ and real-time process monitoring and materials characterization.
- Laser surface modification for bio and energy applications.
My long-term research goal is geared toward developing a new research field that incorporates the two important worlds of quantum materials and advanced nanomanufacturing research together to enable the development of multifunctional/ quantum materials, hybrid structures, and devices with 1D, 2D, and 3D architectures.
The following paragraphs briefly describe some of my research activities and anticipated works.
Research Trust 1. Additive Nanomanufacturing of Multifunctional Materials and Hybrid Structures – Implications for Flexible Electronics.
Research Trust 2. Multimaterial Manufacturing of Eco-Friendly and Biodegradable Paper-Based Flexible Hybrid Electronics.
Research Trust 3. Laser-Based Synthesis of 2D Quantum Materials and Heterostructures.
Research Trust 4. Fundamental Understanding of the Laser Interaction with Materials during the on-the-Earth and In-Space Manufacturing Processes.
Research Trust 5. In-Situ and Real-time Process Monitoring and Materials Characterization.
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