My research interest focuses on assembling graphene based materials into functional macroscale structures for sustainable medical, energy, and environmental applications. Three research topics will be discussed in my talk. First, we showed that metallicity, dispersibility, and size governs the antibacterial activity of graphene based materials, which provide useful insights for developing strategies that can increase their application potentials, while minimizing their environmental and health risks. Second, we created novel nanocarbon composites with tailored structures for energy storage. We used capillary columns as hydrothermal reactors to assemble graphene and carbon nanotubes into a unique multiscale hierarchical structured hybrid fiber. The hybrid carbon fibers were employed to construct fiber supercapacitors as energy storage solutions for emerging miniaturized electronics and smart fabrics/textiles. Last, we showed graphene oxide can be used as effective selective barriers on a hollow fiber membrane for water treatment process. Moreover, highly stable all-carbon separation membranes can be created by intercalating surface functionalized carbon nanotubes into reduced graphene oxide sheets with improved water permeability and membrane selectivity.

My research interest focuses on assembling graphene based materials into functional macroscale structures for sustainable medical, energy, and environmental applications. Three research topics will be discussed in my talk. First, we showed that metallicity, dispersibility, and size governs the antibacterial activity of graphene based materials, which provide useful insights for developing strategies that can increase their application potentials, while minimizing their environmental and health risks. Second, we created novel nanocarbon composites with tailored structures for energy storage. We used capillary columns as hydrothermal reactors to assemble graphene and carbon nanotubes into a unique multiscale hierarchical structured hybrid fiber. The hybrid carbon fibers were employed to construct fiber supercapacitors as energy storage solutions for emerging miniaturized electronics and smart fabrics/textiles. Last, we showed graphene oxide can be used as effective selective barriers on a hollow fiber membrane for water treatment process. Moreover, highly stable all-carbon separation membranes can be created by intercalating surface functionalized carbon nanotubes into reduced graphene oxide sheets with improved water permeability and membrane selectivity.