Advanced Energy Systems and Microdevices Laboratory

Non-PGM catalysts have a huge potential due to the very low raw material cost compared to that of PGM catalyst in many applications spanning from catalytic devices in filtering systems or petroleum processing systems to electrochemical systems such as fuel cells or metal-air batteries, but there is still huge gap between the PGM and non-PGM to be filled by researches. The major research activities of the lab include 1) synthesizing new non-PGM catalysts for new energy systems from the sources of carbon materials (eg. Graphene) with addition of nitrogen, transition metals, and porous materials to modify the characteristics and enhance the catalytic performance of the synthesized catalysts, 2) characterizing the physical, chemical and electrochemical properties of the new synthesized catalysts by XPS, Raman, SEM, TEM, XRD, RRDE and electrochemical testing station, and 3) investigating the reaction mechanism of the new synthesized catalysts through experimental methods for a fundamental understanding of the reaction mechanism. We are getting research supports from or collaborating with Brookhaven National Laboratory, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, Rutgers XPS facility center and NJIT Otto York Center for Material characterizations for a top-notch technology supports for characterizations. The research will provide a substantial pathway to the new cost-effective and fuel-efficient energy conversion system for the next generation energy society.

We are also applying the micro and Nano technology and new materials to the research for biochip micro devices for non-invasive disease detection and diagnosis using both innovative sensing technology and unique microchip design developed in the lab, with the collaborations with researchers at nearby medical centers and Brookhaven National Laboratory. Cancer is one of the major causes of non-accidental death in human. Early detection and diagnosis of the disease allows clinician to take suitable treatment and to improve the patient’s survival rate. The micro biochip helps to diagnose the cancer at earlier stages with its innovative and state of the art ‘sensing technology’- to identify the existence of cancer antibodies in the micro volume of blood sample. When the blood flows through the micro channels of the biochip, the cancer antigens interact with the pre-coated cancer antibodies in the micro channel. The biochip detects the existence of antigens by sensing the antigen-antibody interaction. The sensing technology provides both qualitative and quantitative results of cancer antigens in blood sample. Thus we can diagnose both the existence and the severity of cancer using the micro biochip. The institutes collaborated in this research are NNIN- National Nano technology Infrastructure Network (Penn state university), BNL-Brookhaven National laboratory, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, medical schools and NJIT MFC-Micro fabrication Center

Contact:

Website: www.lee-research.org

Eon Soo Lee
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Advanced Energy Systems and Microdevices Lab, MEC 119B
973-596-3319
eonsoo.lee@njit.edu