TFES Lab

Research

Advancing thermal-fluid science and sustainable energy solutions

Core Research Areas

Smart Nanomaterials

This research area focuses on nanoparticle synthesis, nanofluid preparation and characterization, nanocomposite materials, metal-organic framework (MOF) derivatives, and photocatalytic materials for thermal, energy, and environmental applications. Using chemical co-precipitation, ultrasonic atomization, spray drying, and CVD carbon coating, we have successfully prepared magnetic nanofluids of varying particle sizes, MOF-derived energy storage materials, and BiVO₄-based heterojunction photocatalysts (such as BiVO₄/Bi₂WO₆, BiVO₄/InVO₄, and Bi₂O₃/BiVO₄). Research outcomes span nanofluid heat transfer enhancement mechanisms, wettability control of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) nanostructured surfaces, Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst design, and photocatalytic applications in organic pollutant degradation (Rhodamine B, antibiotics) and E. coli inactivation.

Key Topics

•Nanofluid heat transfer enhancement
•Nanocomposite materials
•MOF derivatives
•Magnetic nanofluids
•BiVO₄ photocatalysts
•AAO nanostructures

29 publicationsView Details

Advanced Thermal-Fluid Management

This area covers advanced cooling technologies—microchannel heat dissipation, heat pipe technology, pool boiling on nanostructured surfaces, server immersion liquid cooling, and lithium-ion battery thermal management—alongside fundamental studies of micro- and nano-scale thermal-fluid phenomena. At the macro scale, we investigate NACA airfoil pin fins, multi-mini-channel designs, pulsating heat pipes, AAO nanostructure growth on gravity heat pipe inner walls, and hydrophilic/hydrophobic surface modification for pool boiling enhancement. For battery cooling, we develop micro heat pipe arrays, PCM-metal scaffolds, and multi-mini-channel cold plates for lithium-ion packs. At the micro/nano scale, we study ferrofluid flow in microchannels (pressure-driven, gravity-driven, magnetically controlled), ferrofluid dampers and hydrostatic bearings, hypersonic thermal flow around spherically blunted tangent-ogive nose cones, magnetogasdynamic natural convection, and gas compressibility effects on forced convection in microtubes.

Key Topics

•Microchannel heat dissipation
•Heat pipe technology
•Pool boiling & nanostructured surfaces
•Server immersion liquid cooling
•Li-ion battery thermal management
•Ferrofluid & micro-scale thermal-fluid

28 publicationsView Details

Clean & Sustainable Energy

This research area is dedicated to renewable and sustainable energy technologies, spanning wind energy, solar thermal, latent heat storage, vanadium redox flow batteries, and electrochemical energy storage devices. In wind energy, we optimize horizontal and vertical axis turbine blades (curvature, twist, winglets, U-shaped sweep) combined with biomimetic blade design and urban building wind-field analysis. In solar/latent heat storage, we investigate PCM shell geometry and fin configurations, as well as AAO nanostructures to enhance solar collector tubes. In electrochemical storage, we study lithium-ion batteries, lithium-ion capacitors, and supercapacitors — covering cathode materials (LiNi₀.₅Mn₁.₅O₄) with doping and surface engineering, anode materials (Li₄Ti₅O₁₂, TiNb₂O₇, Li₃VO₄, SiOₓ/C) with structural design and carbon coating — and extending to vanadium redox flow battery electrolytes and graphite felt electrodes.

Key Topics

•Solar photovoltaic cooling
•Wind energy systems
•Latent heat thermal storage (PCM)
•Lithium-ion batteries
•Lithium-ion capacitors
•Vanadium redox flow batteries

27 publicationsView Details