Physics Dept Seminar

April 17, Monday

Entropy-Driven Mechanics of Biological and Crystalline Membranes

Prof. Fatemeh Ahmadpoor

Dept. of Mechanical Engr., NJIT

(Materials/Biological Physics, Host: Prodan)

Time: 11:45 am - 12:45 pm with 11:30 am teatime

Room: ECE 202

Flexible nanostructures such as graphene, molybdenum disulphide, phosphorene, boron nitride and MXenes, among many others are fascinating for their geometrical and mechanical characteristics and have opened tantalizing new applications such as nanosensors, biomedical devices, gene therapy, electronics, energy harvesting, structural composites, among others. One unique aspect of these nanostructures is that they constantly experience random de- formations due to the thermal energy. These deformations impact their overall mechanical behavior and response to external stimuli. Thermal fluctuations also exist in biological mem- branes and are important for regulating many biological activities such as cell-cell communication, signaling, tracking and interactions with drug carrier nanostructures, yet are not easily incorporated in conventional mechanical models of crystalline and biological mem- branes. In this talk, I will present some of our recent efforts to integrate the continuum mechanics of plates and shells with concepts of statistical physics. This fusion enables us to understand and quantify the role of thermal fluctuations on the mechanical behavior of both biological and crystalline membranes and opens new routes for nondestructive experimental methods for studying the mechanics of these nanostructures.