Short Course 2

Lessons from nature: for addressing performance issues in devices

Hemant K. Raut
EPFL

Abstract: Foulants such as spilled oil, physiological fluids, and attached raindrops can affect the performance of semiconductor devices. The objective of this course is to introduce surface engineering approaches that help mitigate these challenges. To that end, multidisciplinary strategies, and manufacturing innovations – that also address UN SDGs – are presented.

Biography: Dr. Hemant K. Raut is a scientist at École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland. Dr. Raut holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from National University of Singapore and is the recipient of the SUTD-MIT fellowship that enabled him to carry out independent research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His research lies in the multidisciplinary area of bio-inspired materials, focussing specifically on hierarchical (micro- and nano-structured) surfaces engineering. He has authored 21 publications that have garnered a total of 2622 citations so far and have received attention from media including the Scientific American. His research interests lie in the broad areas of multifunctional surfaces and mineralized composites, exhibiting optical, mechanical, adhesive or self-cleaning properties.