Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering University of Illinois University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign
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Mark A. Shannon

Mark A. Shannon
Shannon Group Web Site

Contact Information:
e-mail:
phone: (217) 244-1545
fax: (217) 244-6534

2132 Mechanical Engineering Lab MC-244
1206 West Green Street
Urbana, IL 61801

J. W. Bayne Professor
Director, the WaterCAMPWS Center
B.S., University of California at Berkeley, 1989
M.S., University of California at Berkeley, 1991
Ph.D., University of California at Berkeley, 1993
Postdoctoral Fellow, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, 1993-1994

Energetics of coupled phenomenon; microfabrication; nano- and microelectromecanical systems (NEMS & MEMS)

Our group seeks to advance the state-of-knowledge in coupled phenomenon at the micro- to nanoscale, with application to water purification, microfabrication, nano- and microelectromechanical systems (NEMS & MEMS), micro- and nanofluidic devices, and mesoscale devices that bridge the nano- and micro-scales to the normal scales. The coupled phenomenon we study involve combined electromagnetic (E&M), thermal, chemical, fluidic, and stress fields. There are research projects involving the energetics of separations in aqueous systems; the development of new microfabrication methods utilizing electric fields, plasma, and chemistry; and creating new NEMS, MEMS and mesoscale energetic devices, and water purification systems. Our group conducts microfabrication process development, experimental measurements, and computational research. Synopses of some of our research areas are given below; more can be found at http://www.mechse.uiuc.edu/research/shannon/research/research.htm.

Micro-Gas Sensors

The objective of this research is to create a revolutionary new way to sense molecules in gases, in particular toxins in air. The project is based on a new type of micro-GC column, with three types of detectors operating in parallel at the end of the column to reduce the number of false positives and negatives. The detectors employ nanoscale structures and devices in order to enhance the signal to noise ratio, as well as detect highly mass limited samples. The total sensing time is designed to be in the seconds, with a sensitivity gain of greater than 1000 times. The system includes both sampling pumps and integrated power to drive a remote system.

Active Nanopore Membranes

The objective of this project is to develop a low-energy usage, active ion pump for separating ions from water. In desalination systems, water molecules are separated from the influent aqueous ionic solution that they reside in, leaving a higher concentrated aqueous solution as the exfluent. In this project, we are developing a material system that will actively pump hydrated cations and anions from ionic aqueous solutions (> 20,000 to < 500 ppm) using electrical energy and diffusion to power active nanopore membranes. The goal is reduce energy consumption required for ion separation, and to improve the understanding of the effect of eliminating concentration polarization impedance, a critical issue for aqueous ion separation.

Fuel Cells for MicroPower Generation

The objective of this project is to develop new types of silicon microfabricated room temperature fuel cells supply for on-chip MEMS devices. A major problem with a number of MEMS devices in remote applications is the lack of a micropower source that delivers high energy and power density, all at ambient temperature conditions. Three types of micro-fuel cells are being explored (hydrogen, methanol, and formic acid) to address both the power and energy density issues. Several fundamental questions in microfabrication, and in charge, ion, and proton transport within the catalyst structure and within proton exchange membranes, still need to be resolved. Two papers have been published to date, and more are in preparation.

Selected Publications

M.A. Shannon and R. Semiat, "Advancing Materials and Technologies for Water Purification," MRS Bulletin, 33, 9-12 (2008).

M.A. Shannon, P.W. Bohn, M. Elimelech, J.G. Georgiadis, B.J. Marinas and A.M. Mayes, "Science and Technology for Water Purification in the Coming Decades," Nature, 452, 301-310 (2008).

D. Kim, A. Raj, L. Zhu, R.I. Masel and M.A. Shannon, "Non-equilibrium Electrokinetic Micro/nanofluidic Mixer," Lab on a Chip, 8, 625-628 (2008). pdf

R. Chandrasekharan, S. Prakash, R. I. Masel, and M. A. Shannon, "Change in Radiative Optical Properties of TA2O5 Thin Films due to High Temperature Heat Treatment," Journal of Heat Transfer, 129, 27-36 (2007).

C. Gupta, G. A. Mensing, M. A., Shannon, and P. J. Kenis, "Double Transfer Printing of Small Volumes of Liquids," Langmuir, 23, 2906-2941 (2007). pdf

J. S. Hammonds, F. Saied, and M. A. Shannon, "Solving Coupled 3-D Paraxial Wave and Thermal Diffusion Equations with Mixed-mode Parallel Computations," Parallel Computing, 33, 43-53, (2007). pdf

S. Prakash, A. D. Armijo, R. I. Masel, and M. A. Shannon, "Flame Dynamics in Sub-millimeter Combustors," International Journal Alternative Propulsion, (in press, 2007).

S. Prakash, J. Yeom, N. Jin, I. Adesida, and M. A. Shannon, "Characterization of Ionic Transport at the Nanoscale," Journal of Nanoengineering and Nanosystems, 220, 45-52 (2007). pdf

S. Prakash, T. M. Long, J. C. Selby, J. S. Moore, and M. A. Shannon, "’Click’ Modification of Silica Surfaces and Glass Microfluidic Channels," Analytical Chemistry, 79, 1661-1667 (2007).

J. L. Remmert, Y. Wu, M. A. Shannon, and W. P. King, "Contact Potential Measurement using a Heated Atomic Force Microscope Cantilever Tip," Applied Physics Letters, 91, 143111 (2007).

K. L. Chu, M. A. Shannon, R. I. Masel, "An Improved Miniature Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cell Based on Nanoporous Silicon for Portable Power Generation," Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 153, A1562-A1567 2006.

K. L. Chu, S. Gold, V. Subramanian, C. Lu, M. A. Shannon, and R. I. Masel, "A Nanoporous Silicon Membrane Electrode Assembly for On-chip Micro Fuel Cell Applications," Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems, 15, 671-677 2006.

B. R. Flachsbart, K. Wong, J. M. Iannacone, E. N. Abante, R. L. Vlach, P. A. Rauchfuss, P. W. Bohn, J. V. Sweedler, and M. A. Shannon, "Design and Fabrication of a Multilayered Polymer Microfluidic Chip with Nanofluidic Interconnects via Adhesive Contact Printing," Lab-On-A-Chip, 6, 667-674 2006.