CONFIRMED: Mechanical Engineering Seminar by Dr. Caiwei Shen
Mechanical Engineering (MNE) SEMINAR DATE: February 9, 2024 TIME: 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. LOCATION: Science and Engineering Building (SENG)110 and Zoom: https://umassd.zoom.us/j/91640406955?pwd=eklBZWVDOXVDa2VwUFMra1kwNWhjdz09 (Contact Dr. hling1@umassd.edu for Passcode) SPEAKER: Dr. Caiwei Shen, Assistant Professor Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth TOPIC: Multifunctional Polymer Matrix Composites for Structural Energy Storage Applications ABSTRACT: Structural energy storage components that simultaneously function as batteries or supercapacitors while providing load-bearing capabilities can ease the power demands of many mobile systems, such as consumer electronics, electrical vehicles, and drones. Our laboratory at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth has been working on multifunctional polymer matrix composites for such applications. Our recent work demonstrated that a new type of solid polymer electrolyte, when used as the matrix for composites, could provide much better multifunctionality than previous reports. This presentation will show the experimental results of two of the material systems we examined. Through molecular dynamics simulations, we have also explored the underlying molecular-level mechanisms responsible for the remarkable performance of these systems. The interface between the polymer electrolyte and structural electrodes, as well as the approaches to produce the multifunctional polymer-matrix composites, will also be discussed. BIO: Dr. Caiwei Shen received a B.S. degree in electronic engineering and an M.S. degree in microelectronics from Tsinghua University in 2010 and 2013, respectively. He received a PhD degree in mechanical engineering from the University of California at Berkeley in 2018. In the same year, he joined the Mechanical Engineering department at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth as an assistant professor. He is teaching materials science courses for both undergraduate and graduate students. His research focuses on materials and technologies for energy-related applications and various sensors and actuators. He is currently interested in developing flexible and wearable supercapacitors, multifunctional structural energy storage devices, and mechanical and thermal energy harvesters. For more information please contact Dr. Hangjian Ling, MNE Seminar Coordinator (hling1@umassd.edu). All are welcome. Students taking MNE-500 are REQUIRED to attend! All other MNE students are encouraged to attend. EAS students are also encouraged to attend.
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Mechanical Engineering Department
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