Seminar by Dr. Man Minh Tan and Dr. Tran Ngoc Giang

At 2:00 p.m. on November 19, 2025, IAST organized an academic exchange session at the 5th floor Meeting Room of the Library with the following detailed content:

1/ Dr. Man Minh Tan reported on the topic: Natural & Artificial Materials (AMNR): Research and application orientations for the period 2025–2030
Abstract;

The seminar introduces an overview of the activities of the Natural & Artificial Materials Department (AMNR), a research unit focusing on developing advanced materials for optoelectronics, energy, catalysis and the environment. The report presents four main research directions: (1) silicon photonics and rare earth materials; (2) metal halide perovskites – from Pb-free materials, double perovskites to rare earth doped systems; (3) energy materials – catalysis; and (4) material solutions for the marine economy and renewable energy. The content emphasizes the current challenges of perovskite (lead toxicity, stability, lattice dynamics), along with 1D/2D material development strategies, DFT simulations, and applications in LEDs, SWIR, radiation detectors, and sensors. The seminar also introduces international cooperation programs, commercialization orientations, science and technology goals for the period 2025–2030, and potential for interdisciplinary development.

2/ Dr. Tran Ngoc Giang and the topic: Scalable Fabrication of Rewritable, Switchable, and Stable Superhydrophilic-Superhydrophobic Titanium Micropatterns by Laser Surface Texturing and Fluorine-Free Postprocessing
Abstract:

Nature-inspired surfaces with hybrid wettability hold significant promise for water harvesting, dropwise condensation, and biomedical liquid arrays. However, current fabrication methods are hampered by restricted pattern complexity, reliance on toxic fluorides, mask alignment inaccuracies, and poor scalability. Here, we introduce a fluorine- and mask-free, implant-grade process to create superhydrophilic-superhydrophobic (SHPi-SHPo) patterns on titanium via sequential laser machining, silicone oil heat treatment, and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation treatment. Through parametric optimization of laser parameters and UV exposure, we establish ideal fabrication conditions for achieving micron-scale accuracy, enhanced stability in SHPi micropatterns, and long-term durability of the SHPo substrate. The underlying mechanisms governing wettability transitions and stability were elucidated through surface morphology and surface chemistry analyses. Additionally, the SHPi regions within hybrid architectures exhibit switching between extreme wettability states (SHPi and SHPo) via UV irradiation and thermal annealing cycles while maintaining adjacent SHPo regions’ integrity without cross-contamination. Moreover, additional silicone oil heat treatment fully erases prior patterns and enables micron‐scale rewriting of arbitrary designs. This scalable, eco‐friendly fabrication strategy opens new avenues for dynamic fluid management, efficient heat transfer, and reconfigurable biomedical interfaces.