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About event
In recent years, our group has developed novel processing techniques to engineer soft materials with precisely tailored structures. These include liquid streaming, droplet templating, and chaotic direct ink writing (ChDIW). Each of these methods leverages distinct mechanisms to structure suspensions across multiple scales, from nano to micro and macro.
The first two techniques exploit interfacial co-assembly of nanomaterials/polymers, and surfactants to transition liquid suspensions into structured liquids, while ChDIW enables the fabrication of micro-ordered, gel-like systems. Together, these methods have enabled the creation of multilayered, gradient, Janus, and interpenetrated liquids, as well as 3D-printed hybrid hydrogels.
In this presentation, these methods, along with another novel approach called hybrid formative additive manufacturing (HyFAM), will be discussed for their role in creating hybrid soft materials. Through further processing, these soft materials can be transformed into hybrid ultralightweight aerogels with worm-like, compartmentalized, or welded morphologies. The presentation will outline these templating and fabrication strategies, explore the resulting soft material architectures, and highlight their conversion into aerogels with novel hierarchical structures, offering new opportunities for multifunctional hybrid material design and broad technological applications.
