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Konstantinos Sierros
Flexible Electronics and Sustainable Technologies

Research

Collage of different research aspects which make up the FEST group
Current Projects

Direct Write Patterning

Schematic of a Nozzle Based robotic deposition system, including titanium dioxide bonding and band gap diagrams



Direct-ink Writing of Graphene-Composite Films

  • Graphene-based inks formulated using shear-exfoliated graphene flakes
  • Solution based nucleation and growth of metallic nanoparticles on dispersed graphene flakes
  • Applications include gas sensors with tunable selectivity and sensitivity
Figure describing Graphene-composite film work

Surface Force-Driven Direct Ink Writing of Titanium Dioxide Thin Films for Photovoltaics

  • Using a 3D additive manufacturing technique to fabricate sub-micron films for use in dye-sensitized and perovskite solar cells
  • Investigation of the surface forces acting on the ink, nozzle, and substrate during the extrusion process and their relation to the properties of the resulting film. No pressure is applied on the ink during the printing process
  • Aiming to decrease cost of manufacturing of metal-oxide thin films, and, in turn, electronic devices, through the direct ink writing of low-viscosity inks
Figure describing work done by Guy Cordonier
Figure 1. (a) Custom-built direct ink writing stage with X, Y, and Z motion control. (b) Close-up of the extrusion process of a titanium dioxide ink. (c) Schematic of the surface force-driven direct ink writing. No pressure is applied on the ink

Direct Ink Writing of PLA-Mg Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Regeneration

  • Composite bone scaffolds used to address challenges characteristic of Mg implants
  • Polymer matrix combats rapid degradation, while Mg positively influences bioactivity
  • Direct Ink Writing allows for high resolution printing of irregular and porous geometries
  • Particle inclusion shown to influence cell adhesion and morphology
Research highlighting Dom's work


Titanium Dioxide Printable Foams for Space Applications

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Past Projects

Electromechanical Stability of Flexible Optoelectronic Devices

  • Studying structural and electrical integrity of flexible devices (CNT, ITO, Cu, Au - based)
  • Effects of manufacturing-born defects and integrated micro/nano chips on device reliability (eg. iLEDs)
  • Stress-corrosion, fatigue and corrosion for flex-on-harsh environments

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Collaboration with Darran Cairns and  Stephen Kukureka

Flexible and Stretchable Haptic Sensors

  • Hydrothermally-grown ZnO piezoelectric nano-arrays on flex
  • Fabrication of transparent, flexible and stretchable haptic sensors
  • Electro-structural reliability studies to determine critical haptic loadings

Flexible and stretchable haptic sensors: digital and SEM images of haptic sensors along with a schematic and flow diagram of their production

Patterning Multi-Compositional Systems for Smart Sensors and Flexible devices

  • Use of dip-pen nanolithography for nano-patterning of functional inks
  • Deposition of multiple chemistries and high-T curing
  • Transfer process to flexible substrates
  • Demonstration of method using YAG:Ce phosphors on PEN

Patterning multi-compositional systems for smart sensors and flexible devices: Flow diagram for the production of smart sensors with digital and SEM images of sensors 

Collaboration with Edward Sabolsky

Rotational-Based Energy Harvesting from Tribological Processes

  • Development of piezotribonic devices for harvesting contact-based stresses and frictional heating (rigid and flexible)
  • Utilization of rotational motion and low-cost solution (sol-gel) processed piezoelectric films
  • Resonant-independent ambient energy harvesting

Rotational-based energy harvesting from tribological processes: schematic and image of piezotribonic energy harvesting apparatus and system output data 

Natural-Based Materials Deposition and Characterization for Biodegradable Electronics

  • Thermal evaporation and solution deposition of natural semiconductors
  • Fabrication of flexible and edible substrates by drop casting
  • Structural, electrical and optical characterization
  • Device design and fabrication

Natural-based materials deposition and characterization for biodegradable electronics: surface image of a biodegradable electronic material and biochemical structures 

Collaboration with Dimitris Korakakis

Current Funding

NSF Logo      United States of American Department of Energy Logo       NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium Logo        NASA Logo

Past Funding

WV NanoSafe Logo    EPSCoR Logo TRIO: Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program Logo