Jingqin Cui graduated from City College, The City University of New York with a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering in 2008. Her dissertation focused on Janus particle fabrication, characterization and applications, as well as synthesis of nanostructures. Following graduation, she did postdoctoral works at Johns Hopkins University and Old Dominion University from October 2008 through November 2011. The projects were “Dielectrophoresis assembly of colloidal particles”, and “Janus particle induced-charge electrokinetics & application in microfluidics”, respectively. From January 2012 through February 2013, she was back at City College to explore the applications of Janus particles as complex fluid microprobes. Dr. Cui joined Xiamen University in March 2013.
Striving to develop new technologies and emphasizing on multidisciplinary collaborations, the group is interested in (1) self- and directed- assembly of micro- & nano-particles to precise specifications; (2) synthesis, modification, manipulation, and application of functional structures; and (3) Janus structure-based designs, fabrications & applications. The group welcomes students of fundamental knowledge in chemistry, applied physics, chemical engineering, material science and engineering, colloidal/interfacial science and other related fields.
Ongoing projects:
1. Field directed assembly of colloidal particles as photonic, electric, magnetic devices: Through in-situ and real time optical observation of Janus particle manipulated by an external field, the group aims to realize predictable, reproducible, tunable, and precise bottom-up building of novel structures, e.g. new optical, electrical materials. With controllable composition, size and shape of colloidal particles, the assembled structures can be of great varieties.
AC-field induced assembly of silica particles with a hyperbolic quadruple electrode trap. 3-D Confocal image (left); Simulation (right). (J. J. Juarez et al. Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 94-103)
2. Janus structure applications: With their optical asymmetry, both translational and rotational dynamics of Janus particles are detectable, therefore they are perfect candidate as microprobe chemical/biological sensors for non-intrusive observation of biological system or complex fluid systems. Another promising application is to incorporate electrically asymmetric Janus particles into flexible and stretchable (usually made of non-conductive polymer) energy storage devices.
MSD analysis of 1-micron polystyrene particles in DI-water under Brownian motion (left); Tracking of an optically asymmetric 4-micron fluorescent Janus microprobe (right).（J.-Q. Cui et al., 2016, in submission）
3. Microfluidics system to understand and design functional materials with novel structures and compositions: Microfluidics employs low-Re laminar flow to achieve concentration gradient by diffusion. With electric asymmetric Janus structures, it’s possible to introduce unique induced-charge electrokinetics dynamics into the laminar system and enhance mixing. Increased mixing is essential for microfluidics system to be used as microreactors or microarray analysis.
Janus particle under DC-field electrokinetics in a micro-channel (left); Simulation analysis of a particle in the channel (right). （J.-Q. Cui et al. 2016, in preparation）
Publications & conferences:
1. J. J. Juarez, B. Liu, J.-Q. Cui, M.A. Bevan, ‘kT-Scale Colloidal Interactions in High Frequency Inhomogeneous AC Electric Fields. II. Concentrated Ensembles’, Langmuir, 2011, 27, 9219
2. J. J. Juarez, J.-Q. Cui, B. Liu, M.A. Bevan, ‘kT-Scale Colloidal Interactions in High Frequency Inhomogeneous AC Electric Fields. I. Single Particles’, Langmuir, 2011, 27, 9211
3. A. Maliakal, J.-Q. Cui, I. Kretzschmar, L. Zhu, ‘Patternable electroactive polymer actuators incorporating titania core-poly(butal-acrylate) shell NPs’, PMSE Preprints, 2008, 98, 169
4. J.-Q. Cui and I. Kretzschmar, ‘Surface-anisotropic polystyrene spheres by electroless deposition’, Langmuir, 2006, 22, 8281
5. J.-Q. Cui, I. Kretzschmar, P. Shapturenka, “Brownian dynamics of patchy spheres: the effect of viscosity and surface coating”, 88th ACS Colloid & Surface Science Symposium, June 2014, Philadelphia, PA
6. J.-Q. Cui, “Microfluidic dlectrophoresis of metallodielectric patchy particles”, 88th ACS Colloid & Surface Science Symposium, June 2014, Philadelphia, PA
