Guest Speaker: Prof. TAN Swee Ching
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
National University of Singapore
Prof. Tan Swee Ching earned his Bachelor’s degree in Physics from the National University of Singapore, which set the stage for his research and engineering career. He gained valuable experience as a Laser Process and Equipment Engineer at Hewlett Packard in Singapore and Ireland, where he developed new technologies for silicon micromachining. This work reduced costs by over US$400,000 per year and increased productivity by 35%, earning him the Award for Outstanding Achievement.
Passionate about technology, Prof. Tan pursued a PhD at the University of Cambridge in Electrical Engineering, supported by scholarships from the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust and Wingate Foundations. His research focused on using photosynthetic proteins as materials for solar cells, merging his engineering skills with sustainable energy research.
After completing his PhD, Prof. Tan worked as a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT, collaborating with Professors Carl V. Thompson and Tomas Palacios on high electron mobility devices. He 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.
In addition to his teaching, Prof. Tan is involved in academic publishing, serving on the editorial board of Scientific Reports and advising for Device and Energy Technology. His research has been recognized in top journals like Nature Review Materials, Nature Electronics, Nature Sustainability, Nature Water, Nature Communications, and Science Advances.
Abstract
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.
