Textiles Nanotechnology Laboratory at Cornell University

Welcome to the Textiles Nanotechnology Laboratory

Our research group aims at understanding complex phenomena at the nanoscale that are of fundamental relevance to fiber, textiles and polymer science.

Our research work can be categorized into three main thrusts:

Transmission Electron Microscopy TEM images of cotton fibers coated with gold (L) and palladium (R) nanoparticles. Potential applications include catalytic mantles, structural coloration (color without dyes) and antibacterial flexible substrates

1. Modification and enhancement of existing textile materials using electrostatic self-assembly and atomic layer deposition techniques to create novel, multifunctional and customizable surfaces on conventional textile substrates. Our group has deposited polyelectrolytes, inorganic and metallic nanolayers as well as a myriad of nanoparticles, catalytic moieties and non-spherical colloids over textile fibers with nanoscale precision opening a new avenue for the development of smart textiles.

TEM and FESEM images of nylon nanofibers coated with gold (L) nanoparticles and anomalous crystal formations of NaCl (R) . Potential applications include active and catalytic filtration of hazardous gases and industrial toxic chemicals as well as anti-counterfeiting devices.

2. Nanomanufacturing of polymeric nanofibers using directed assembly techniques as well as external fields to create novel fibers with unique catalytic, magnetic and electrical properties. We use magnetic and electric fields to achieve precise position control of functional nanoparticles inside and outside polymeric fibers hence creating novel nanocomposite materials. Some of these nanofibers have applications in anti-counterfeiting, antibacterial, anti-odor and self-decontaminating applications. Additional properties of these nanofibers include tunable coloration and control of near infrared signatures for active camouflage applications.

Acoustic Force Atomic Microscopy image of a conjugated fiber (Islands on the Sea) containing 1120 nanofibers of polyester in a sea of polyethylene (L). Electrostatic Force Microscopy of a nanofiber nonwoven web used in electret filtration media (R)

3. Development of metrology tools based on scanning probe microscopy customized to assess nanoscale phenomena on low energy surfaces with high radius of curvature such as those of textile fibers. Our group is pioneering the use of electric force microscopy as a probing tool to quantitatively determine the effect of electrical charge degradation on the filtration performance of electret filter media. We also use a novel Atomic Force Acoustic Microscopy AFAM technique to probe the mechanical properties of nanofibers as well conjugated fibers (Islands on the Sea) produced via bicomponent extrusion.