Researchers have developed a dry surface and shape adaptive thin shape memory polymer adhesive specifically targeting flexible fabric adherends. Current temporary or...
Researchers have developed a dry surface and shape adaptive thin shape memory polymer adhesive specifically targeting flexible fabric adherends. Current temporary or permanent adhesives for lightweight fabrics lack reusability, shape and surface adaptability. The invention uses unique characteristics of shape memory polymer to create a surface and shape adaptive adhesive that leaves no residue, can be reused, is washable and has high holding strength. The primary application of this invention will be to use as thin flexible adhesive for fabrics.
Dr. Lili Cai and her team at the University of Illinois have developed a new nanoporous composite material for passive cooling applications. This composite has solar...
Dr. Lili Cai and her team at the University of Illinois have developed a new nanoporous composite material for passive cooling applications. This composite has solar reflectivity of 96.2%, infrared emissivity greater than 90%, and can generate a cooling power of 85 W/m2 to reduce subambient temperature by up to 6.1°C without any energy inputs. The material is inexpensive, easier to fabricate than state-of-the-art passive cooling materials, and can retain its properties even after thermal processing or 3D printing.
Kyle Smith has improved current flow channel designs by integrating the flow channel inside of the electrode. This enables his design to improve current electrode...
Kyle Smith has improved current flow channel designs by integrating the flow channel inside of the electrode. This enables his design to improve current electrode performance by a factor of 1000. Furthermore, Dr. Smith has improved the shape and arrangement of his flow channels by arranging them in a hierarchical fashion and creating a cube-root shape. This results in an optimized and improved flow channel that makes the electrodes much more permeable than current designs. Effectively, these electrodes can now have a flow with very low amounts of pressure required.
Hydrophobic coatings are water-resistant and can be used to condense steam for efficient heat-transfer. Certain applications require ultra-thin coating, which the current...
Hydrophobic coatings are water-resistant and can be used to condense steam for efficient heat-transfer. Certain applications require ultra-thin coating, which the current coats are prone to delamination upon surface damage.
In a collaborative effort between the Evans and Miljkovic lab, a new ultra-thin hydrophobic coating has been developed. This coating can be easily applied to existing materials to protect surfaces against water damage. Unlike previous coatings, this invention is capable of self-heal, thus enhancing its durability and lifetime.
Pictured below: top row is previous coatings, bottom row is this invention.
Inventors from the University of Illinois have developed a method to form thin film depositions from a variety of sources, using Vacuum UV light.
This low temperature method is fast and allows for a low defect and uniform film deposition on almost any surface. Moreover it is capable of forming films from vapor, solid and liquid precursors.
Applications include mioelectronics, optoelectronics, semiconductor surface and metals passivation, coating of materials with low melting point, dielectric materials, and potentially hydraulic rams to prevent oxidation of materials.
