Functional Microstructured Surfaces

Last updated on Jun 12, 2026
Image credit: Yuxing Yao et al.

Functional microstructured surfaces provide a powerful platform for amplifying subtle molecular and interfacial interactions into macroscopically observable responses. This project explores how surface chemistry, topography, and disorder can be engineered to direct the concentration and detection of amphiphilic molecules with high sensitivity.

By coupling molecular self-assembly with surface wetting behavior, these systems reveal new design principles for responsive interfaces, chemical sensing, and bio-inspired functional surfaces.

soft materials functional surfaces wettability molecular self-assembly
Soft Responsive Materials Laboratory (SRM-Lab)

My research focuses on developing new stimuli-responsive polymeric microstructured surfaces and microactuators—leveraging fundamental principles of polymer science, chemical synthesis, mechanics, and advanced nano/microfabrication techniques—for applications in miniaturized soft robotics as well as optical and mechanical meta-devices.