Engineering Fiber Materials and Bio-Abiotic Interfaces for Functional Systems

IAS Visiting Fellow Dr Yue Yuan delivers a seminar on their research -

Fibrous materials offer hierarchical architecture and abundant chemical functionality for designing sustainable materials with tailored performance. This talk will summarize our efforts over the past decade to engineer fiber-based materials across multiple length scales for applications in biocatalysis, water treatment and energy. Emphasis will be placed on bio–abiotic interfaces, where bioderived and synthetic macromolecular components interact to define material structure, dynamics, and function. Through chemical functionalization, wet and dry processing, and controlled assembly, we have investigated strategies to regulate wetting, molecular transport, mechanical response, and catalytic activity. Advanced characterization tools, including neutron scattering, have been critical for revealing how interfacial chemistry and water interactions influence material behavior. Examples will include bioderived fiber-based additives for reinforcing soft materials, as well as engineered interfaces for biocatalytic gas conversion. The talk will conclude by highlighting opportunities to combine advanced synthesis with multimodal characterization to establish design principles for next-generation bio–abiotic materials.

Arrivals from 11:45 am for a 12:00 noon start. For those joining in-person, lunch will be served after the seminar from 1:00pm.

This event is hybrid format, please use the required booking button at the bottom of the page to choose either in-person or online attendance.
(Please note that in-person spaces are limited and booking is required, so we can manage numbers for catering and also the space in the seminar room)

By booking a place at this event, attendees agree to behave in a respectful manner such that everyone feels comfortable contributing as they wish. The IAS reserves the right to eject anyone who does not abide by this policy.

IAS seminars are typically recorded, minus any Q&A sessions at the end, again to encourage contributions. The recordings are then uploaded to our website on a Fellows bio page and/or Programme page, along with our IAS YouTube Channel. If you are not able to attend a seminar live, please do still register for the Teams webinar, as we will email everyone who registered to let them know once the recordings are made available.