Eui-Hyeok Yang: Comparison
Please note this is a comparison between Version 3 by Eui-Hyeok Yang and Version 2 by Amina Yu.
  • 2D materials
  • carbon nanotubes
  • 2D Magnets
  • MEMS
  • Nanotechnology

1. Brief Introduction 

Dr. EH Yang is a Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Stevens Institute of Technology. The first to receive a MEMS Ph.D. in his native South Korea, he joined Stevens in 2006 following tenure as a senior member of the engineering staff at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he was awarded, among other honors, the Lew Allen Award for Excellence for developing MEMS-based actuators and microvalves for large-aperture space telescopes and deformable mirrors capable of correcting for optical aberrations to improve high-resolution imaging. Through the Stevens Micro Device Laboratory, Dr. Yang facilitates student research and hands-on education in emerging nanotechnologies. In addition to his role as a faculty advisor of the nanotechnology graduate program, he spearheaded the design of Stevens' first undergraduate nanotechnology research-track training program. Dr. Yang has secured over 40 federal grants and contracts, including funding from the National Science Foundation, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, National Reconnaissance Office, US Army, and NASA. Dr. Yang's professional service credits include editorial or editorial board positions for several journals, including Nature’s Scientific Reports and multiple track chair positions for ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE). He has produced more than 100 journal papers, 250 conference proceedings and presentations, and has delivered several keynotes or invited talks at major conferences. 

2. Honors and Recognition

Dr. Yang has been nationally and internationally recognized for his research excellence. He was honored to give Track Plenary lectures at ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Pittsburg, PA, in November 2018. Dr. Yang was elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors for demonstrating a highly prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on the quality of life, economic development, and welfare of society. He received the Technical Achievement Award from IEEE Sensors Council in 2020. He is also a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) for his extensive contributions to the fields of micro- and nanotechnology.

He received numerous awards, including the NASA ICB Space Act Award (2003, 2005), Bonus (Level B and C) Award (2001, 2003), many Class 1 NASA Tech Brief Awards (2001-2008), and the prestigious Lew Allen Award for Excellence (2003), recognized for his excellence in advancing the use of Micro Electro Mechanical Systems–based actuators for space applications. Dr. Yang received the Jess H. Davis Memorial Award for Research Excellence (2018) at Stevens and the leadership recognition (2014) from the ASME MEMS Division in honor of his excellence in leading the division in efforts to foster collaboration and maintain a high level of creativity in the field. Dr. Eui-Hyeok Yang leads research in several distinct and exciting areas of micro- and nanotechnology, which represents a significant advance in nanomaterials, microfluidics, supercapacitors, photosensors, and pressure sensors. His significant patents include US 9,738,526, US 9,640,391, US 9,573,814 and US 8,878,120, concerning novel energy harvesting and energy storage, as well as detector applications, which have numerous civilian, military, and scientific uses. 

3. Notable Contributions

His commitment to mentoring, sharing knowledge and contributing to the scientific community is demonstrated in more than 145 journal titles he has reviewed throughout his career, including Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Communications, Advanced Materials, Advanced Functional Materials, JACS, Materials Today, ACS Nano, and Chemistry of Materials. At NASA, Dr. Yang managed and monitored several NASA SBIR projects and participated in the review committee for developing NASA's Multi-Object Spectrometer for James Webb Space Telescope, in addition to managing or executing several research contracts funded by NASA, DARPA, and NRO.

Dr. Yang exudes a spirit of innovation which he shares through his various leadership roles in professional societies; he has served several professional activities for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers (IEEE), Materials Research Society (MRS), Society of Photographic Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE), American Vacuum Society (AVS), New York Academy of Sciences, and American Physical Society (APS). His service to the professional community includes formal appointments such as Associate Editor of ASME Journal of Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage, Editorial Board Member of Nature's Scientific Reports, and Associate Editor of IEEE Sensors Journal. In particular, Dr. Yang has been a significant contributor to ASME MEMS Division and ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE); as Track Chair of the IMECE Nano and Micro Systems Track, he organized and ran several symposia consisting of approximately 50 sessions and over 250 presentations related to advances in Nano and Micro Systems, each year from 2009 to 2011. He was Division Chair (2012-2013), Division Vice-Chair (2011-2012), Member of the Executive Committee (2009-2014), Committee Chair, Program and Editorial Committee (2009-2011), Track Chair of IMECE Micro and Nano Systems Track (2009-2011), Track Co-Chair of IMECE Micro and Nano Systems Track (2012), Track Co-Chair of IMECE Nanoengineering for Biology and Medicine Track (2011), Organizer and Committee Member of the ASME Society-Wide Micro/Nano Technology Forum (2008-2012), Committee Member of IMECE’s Micro and Nano Devices Symposium, and Miniaturization for Space (2005-2010).

4. Research Areas

4.1.Syntheses, Analyses and Applications of 2D Materials and Their Heterostructures

There has been a growing interest in two-dimensional (2D) crystals beyond graphene, facilitating novel electronic and optoelectronic devices. Doping different atoms into transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) creates 2D dilute magnetic semiconductors, promising for spintronics applications. Our work synthesizes 2D dilute magnetic semiconductors via an in situ substitutional doping of metal atoms into the transition metal lattice sites in TMD monolayers and probes ferromagnetism at room temperature. These van der Waals ferromagnets find critical applications, including on-chip magnetic manipulation of quantum states or spintronics. Other related projects include modeling to prevent the anomalies encountered in topographic images of TMD monolayers in dynamic atomic force microscopy and elucidating the effect of TMD surfaces and their geometric arrangements on cellular morphology and adhesion. Suppose our growth and nanofabrication strategy could be developed to be highly reliable and high fidelity, in this case, it could have an enormous impact on the future research and commercialization of TMD-based devices.

4.2. Flexible Electrodes and Tunable Wetting

Skin-attachable electronic devices can be subjected to various lateral strains via stretching, bending, and distortion, while the devices must provide reliable outputs under pressure orthogonally applied to the surface. We perform partial-embedding of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes in polydimethylsiloxane, which are stable under stretching and bending (flexibility) for long-cyclic testing. The devices (e.g., pressure sensors) made using this process can be sensitive or insensitive to these lateral strains induced by mechanical deformation (such as stretching, bending, twisting, and wrinkling). We also utilize dodecylbenzenesulfonate-doped polypyrrole (PPy(DBS)) to provide additional functionalities to flexible sensors and energy-storage devices. Stretchable electrodes will have applications in wearable electronics, flexible photovoltaics (e.g., rolled-up displays), self-powered wearable optoelectronics, and electronic skins.

4.3. Representative Invited Presentation slides

Physics Colloquium, SUNY Buffalo, 2021

Functional Nanomaterials Conference (Hangzhou, China) 2018

MSE Colloquium, Columbia University, 2014

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 2013

SPIE Conference (Baltimore, MD) (2009)

Keynote at InterPACK Conference (Vancouver, Canada) 2007

4.4. Funded Projects

2D Material-based Heterostructures toward Matter Wave Interferometer (Funded by US Army): This project aims to nanofabricate 2D materials-based sensing elements using graphene to explore matter-wave interferometers. We explore the nanoscale processing and characterization techniques for matter-wave interferometers.

Carbon Nanotube-based Sensors for Munition (Funded by US Army): This project develops stretchable strain gauges fabricated via a partial embedding of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes in polydimethylsiloxane. This stretchable device can be used for several applications, including wearables and electronic skins.

Rejuvenating Conjugated Polymer Membranes for Oily Water Treatment (Funded by ACS PRF): This project investigates the self-cleaning of surfactant-doped conjugated polymer membranes and the relationship between the interface and permeation dynamics in several types of membranes.

Graphene Microstructures for Photodetectors (Funded by NSF and AFOSR): This project is to investigate the graphene microribbon arrays for applications in infrared detectors. We demonstrated fully-suspended CVD-grown graphene microribbon arrays dominated by the photoelectric effect.

Tunable Wetting on Smart Polymers for Microfluidics (Funded by NSF): The research aims to achieve controlled manipulation of liquid droplets on PPy electrodes for ultra-low voltage lab-on-a-chip devices. This investigation represents a pathfinder study for future research and development in bio and energy applications.

Nanotechnology Exposure for Undergraduate Students (NUE-NEXUS) (Funded by NSF): The primary goal of this program is to create a nexus between nanotechnology and undergraduate engineering education at Stevens to expand understanding of nanotechnology and its applications to a broad undergraduate student population.

Atomic Lattice Imaging of Graphitic Materials for Advanced Nanoelectronics and Nanosensing Systems (Funded by AFOSR): This project funds the purchase of a high-resolution scanning probe microscope (SPM), capable of imaging in ambient conditions, to directly support the needs of current federally funded research programs.

Nanoimprint Lithography for Nanoscience Research and Education based on Low-Dimensional Materials (Funded by NSF): This grant funds the acquisition of a Nanoimprint Lithography System, a whole-wafer nanoimprint for thermoplastic resins that has high-resolution and high-throughput capabilities.

Carbon-based Electron Wave Interferometer (US Army ARDEC): This project explores the nanoscale processing and characterization techniques for matter-wave interferometers.

Ultra-Low Leak Rate Piezoelectrically actuated Microvalves for Controlled Sampling by Mass Spectrometers (NASA GSFC IRAD) (PI: Balvin, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center): This project is to develop piezoelectrically actuated microvalves for controlled sampling by mass spectrometers for NASA applications.

Graphene as Transparent Conductive Electrodes for High-Density Focal Plane Assemblies (NASA GSFC IRAD) (PI: Li, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center): This project develops graphene growth technology and helps GSFC to build the CVD system to grow graphene.

Micromachined Piezoelectric Multi-layer Actuators for Cryogenic Adaptive Optics (NASA SBIR Phase I and II) (PI: Jiang, TRS Technologies): This project is to develop micromachined piezoelectric actuators for cryogenic Adaptive Optics toward NASA applications.

Single Electronic Memory Devices based on Carbon Nanotube Quantum Dots (Funded by AFOSR): This project investigates to investigate carbon-based transistor devices. Quantum dot-based electron transistor devices were successfully fabricated and demonstrated.

EH Yang Research at JPL (1996-2006)

  • Inchworm microactuator (Funding: National Reconnaissance Office, NASA): 2001~2005
  • MEMS Adaptive optics (Funding: Center for Adaptive Optics, JPL Director's Research and Development Fund, DARPA/LASSO): 1999~2006
  • Actuated membrane development (Funding: National Reconnaissance Office): 2003~2004
  • Piezoelectric microvalve (Funding: NASA Code R Enabling Technology Thrust): 2001~2004 (Market Analysis)