| curriculum_vitae_---_fangming_xiang_05012021.pdf |
Academic
My interest in polymer and polymer composites began during my master's study. At that time, I was studying polymer blends containing carbon naotubes (CNTs). Using thermodynamic potentials and covalent interactions, I was able to coax some CNTs to disperse on the interface of immiscible polymer phases. This configuration allowed CNTs to toughen the polymer blends by "stitching" different polymer phases together. Despite the success, I never managed to maximize the toughening effect by dispersing all CNTs on the interface, so my search for a method that would allow me to fully control the nanostructure went on.
This search continued during my PhD study at the Mechanical Engineering Department of Texas A&M University. It is there that I learned about layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly, a bottom-up processing technique that utilizes complimentary interactions between components to deposit materials one layer at a time. Since the thickness of each layer is usually 1-100 nm, the structure of the LbL assembly can be controlled with nano-scale precision, a feature that cannot be realized by traditional processing techniques, such as melt blending and solution mixing. Under the guidance of Prof. Jaime Grunlan, I improved the mechanical, optical, and gas barrier properties of LbL assemblies. The findings of my research are published in several high-impact journals, including Adv. Funct. Mater., ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, Macromolecules, and Soft Matter.
Aiming to obtain a new set of skills, I accepted a postdoctoral fellowship offer from the Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory to develop membranes for carbon capture. Since the beginning of my appointment in July 2015, I worked on multiple gas separation projects, and applied for a $700,000 federal grant (BSEE, E16PS00024) as a co-principal investigator. The whitepaper for this proposal was accepted, while the full proposal is currently under review. My future research will focus on developing polymer composites with rationally designed nanostructures in order to meet the challenges emerged in the world’s shift to a low-carbon economy. The discoveries made in this research will help further clarify the structure-property relationship of polymer composites, which could have significant impacts on academia, industry, and society.
Personal
I grew up in Chengdu, China. This city that offers the best cuisines in China (in my humble opinion) and is also known as the home of the panda. I met my wife during my master's study in Southwest Jiaotong University, and marrying her was the best decision that I have ever made. We are expecting our first child on October 20, 2018. My hobbies are playing tennis, watching tennis and car videos, fishing, and reading
My interest in polymer and polymer composites began during my master's study. At that time, I was studying polymer blends containing carbon naotubes (CNTs). Using thermodynamic potentials and covalent interactions, I was able to coax some CNTs to disperse on the interface of immiscible polymer phases. This configuration allowed CNTs to toughen the polymer blends by "stitching" different polymer phases together. Despite the success, I never managed to maximize the toughening effect by dispersing all CNTs on the interface, so my search for a method that would allow me to fully control the nanostructure went on.
This search continued during my PhD study at the Mechanical Engineering Department of Texas A&M University. It is there that I learned about layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly, a bottom-up processing technique that utilizes complimentary interactions between components to deposit materials one layer at a time. Since the thickness of each layer is usually 1-100 nm, the structure of the LbL assembly can be controlled with nano-scale precision, a feature that cannot be realized by traditional processing techniques, such as melt blending and solution mixing. Under the guidance of Prof. Jaime Grunlan, I improved the mechanical, optical, and gas barrier properties of LbL assemblies. The findings of my research are published in several high-impact journals, including Adv. Funct. Mater., ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, Macromolecules, and Soft Matter.
Aiming to obtain a new set of skills, I accepted a postdoctoral fellowship offer from the Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory to develop membranes for carbon capture. Since the beginning of my appointment in July 2015, I worked on multiple gas separation projects, and applied for a $700,000 federal grant (BSEE, E16PS00024) as a co-principal investigator. The whitepaper for this proposal was accepted, while the full proposal is currently under review. My future research will focus on developing polymer composites with rationally designed nanostructures in order to meet the challenges emerged in the world’s shift to a low-carbon economy. The discoveries made in this research will help further clarify the structure-property relationship of polymer composites, which could have significant impacts on academia, industry, and society.
Personal
I grew up in Chengdu, China. This city that offers the best cuisines in China (in my humble opinion) and is also known as the home of the panda. I met my wife during my master's study in Southwest Jiaotong University, and marrying her was the best decision that I have ever made. We are expecting our first child on October 20, 2018. My hobbies are playing tennis, watching tennis and car videos, fishing, and reading
