Nature materials, such as nacre and bamboo, are lightweight materials yet exhibit high strength and toughness. Their high mechanical efficiency is attributed to their multi-scale structure distribution and arrangement of their constituent elements. Inspired by nature materials, advanced structurally engineered materials are composed of multi-scale structure designs with multifunctionality. The development of such advanced materials heavily relies on material processing capabilities. Our group has been focusing on developing multiple types of colloidal processing technologies that allow us to design and control the material composition and structure throughout multiple length scales, from nano-, micro- to macro-length scales. Our current research directions include the development of multi-functional cellular materials, multi-functional composite materials, multi-scale freeze casting technologies, and multi-scale additive manufacturing technologies. Selected research outcomes can be explored in the following research-track webpages.
