CBE Seminar on Biomimetic Materials for Energy, Sensing, and Smart Textiles
Supporting the below United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:支持以下聯合國可持續發展目標：支持以下联合国可持续发展目标：
Prof. Tan focuses on learning from nature to create sustainable materials that solve engineering problems. For example, by studying how spiders spin silk, he and his team developed stretchy, one-dimensional conducting fibers for smart textiles. These fibers combine strength and electrical conductivity, making them suitable for wearable electronics and medical devices. Building on the idea of materials that mimic biological tissues, they also created a skin-like hydrogel using a method called COMBIA. This hydrogel has a unique bonding system that allows it to stretch, heal, stick to surfaces, and sense different stimuli. It closely resembles human skin, making it great for soft robotics, prosthetics, and interactive devices.
In another project, the team drew inspiration from desert beetles and moss, which collect moisture from the air. They designed super-hygroscopic materials that can capture water vapor efficiently. These materials help regulate moisture in textiles and can convert absorbed water into electrical energy, providing a sustainable power source for self-powered systems in humid conditions.
Overall, these projects showcase the potential of biomimetic materials, combining natural inspiration with innovative material science to tackle challenges in energy, sensing, and wearable technology.
Prof. Tan Swee Ching earned his bachelor’s degree in Physics from the National University of Singapore, laying a strong foundation for his future research and engineering career. He later gained valuable industry experience as a Laser Process and Equipment Engineer at Hewlett-Packard in Singapore and Ireland, where he developed silicon micromachining technologies that reduced operational costs by more than US$400,000 per year and increased productivity by 35%, earning him the company’s Award for Outstanding Achievement. Driven by a passion for technology and innovation, Prof. Tan pursued a PhD in Electrical Engineering at the University of Cambridge, supported by scholarships from the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust and the Wingate Foundation. Following his PhD, he joined the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT as a postdoctoral associate under the supervision of Professors Carl V. Thompson and Tomas Palacios. Prof. Tan is now an Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore and the founder of Ultra Private Limited, a company that commercializes a super-hygroscopic material developed by his research group. He also serves on the editorial boards of Scientific Reports, Device (Cell Press), and Energy Technology (Wiley). His work has been featured in leading journals including Nature Reviews Materials, Nature Electronics, Nature Sustainability, Nature Water, Nature Communications, and Science Advances.