Biography
Chee Huei received his PhD (Physics) from Michigan Technological University in 2010 and MSc (Applied Physics) from University of Malaya, Malaysia in 2004. Prior to join SUTD as a lecturer, Chee Huei worked as a postdoctoral research scholar at both Michigan Tech. (December 2010- October 2011) and Case Western Reserve University (November 2011- December 2012). He was previously a research officer at Malaysian Institute for Nuclear Technology Research (currently known as Malaysian Nuclear Agency) from 2003-2005, before he pursued his PhD study in U.S.
His research expertise includes 1D nanomaterial synthesis, characterization, modification and exploring their potential applications. Particularly, he grows boron nitride nanotubes, carbon nanotubes and ZnO nanowires by the CVD method. In addition, he has strong experience in various material characterization techniques and laboratory skills, including Raman, FTIR and PL spectroscopy, SEM, TEM, laser, optical instrument, high vacuum technology and so on. He also works on device fabrication in a clean room environment, photo-lithography, etching process, and thin film deposition.
He is always learning to appreciate the beauty of nature through physics. He seeks to work with students towards this endeavour.
Education Background
- PhD (Physics), Michigan Technological University, USA, 2010
- MSc (Applied Physics), University of Malaya, Malaysia, 2004
- BSc (Industrial Physics), University Technology of Malaysia, Malaysia, 2002
Research Interests
- 1-D and 2-D nanomaterial synthesis to achieve specific functionality, via controlling the physical and chemical properties of the nanomaterials.
- Implementation of nanomaterials for energy harvesting applications, such as high efficient photovoltaic devices, supercapacitors, batteries, optoelectronic devices, sensors and so on.
- Functionalization of nanomaterials, micro- and nano-fabrication for composite materials, biomedical devices, photonic and other applications.
Research Projects
- Single layer graphene synthesis by Chemical Vapor Deposition, Synthesis of topological insulator (Bi2Se3) nanowire and thin film, device fabrication, Hall effect measurement and electrical conductivity using PPMS with lock-in measurement technique. 2011 – 2012
- Growth and characterization of heterojunctions of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and boron nitride nanotube (BNNTs) for future nano-electronic devices. 2010-2011
- Induction heating furnace design for high rate production of BNNTs. Modification of BNNTs for tunable electronic property. 2010-2011
- Synthesis, patterned growth, and characterization of high quality BNNTs by thermal-CVD. BNNT-based electronic devices fabrication and I-V characterization. 2005–2011.
- Wetting property and superhydrophobicity of BNNT films study for anti-corrosive and self-cleaning surface. 2008-2011
- Functionalization of BNNTs with π-conjugated polymer and mPEG-DSPE for solubility in solutions, dispersion and bio-applications. 2005–2011
- Investigation of mechanical and electrical properties of single BNNT by in-situ AFM/STM-TEM system. Investigation of BNNTs as deep UV detectors. 2008-2010
- Synthesis of boron nitride nanotubes by PLD Facility at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS) in Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL). March 2007 – July 2008
Awards & Achievements
- Prestigious Michigan Technological University’s Bhakta Rath Research Award, 2011.
- Dean’s Award for Outstanding Scholarship Award in Physics Department, MTU, 2010.
- Doctoral Finishing Fellowships from the Graduate School of MTU, 2010.
- MTU Research Symposium Poster Winners (3rd place), Graduate Student Council (GSC), 2010.
- Science as Art competition (2nd place) in the 2009 Materials Research Society (MRS) Fall Meeting, 2009.
- Student travel award for the 1st Nano Today Conference, Biopolis, Singapore, 2009.
- Graduate Student Council (GSC), MTU Research Symposium Oral Presentation Winners (1st place), 2008.
- Phi Kappa Phi Invitation Membership (2008)
- American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Outstanding Teaching Assistant, 2007.
- JPA Scholarship for M.Sc. from the Public Service Department of Malaysia, 2002‐2004.
- The Best Student Award of B.Sc.(Industrial Physics), University Technology of Malaysia, 2002.
Selected Publications
Peer-review Journal Papers
- Chee Huei Lee, Dongyan Zhang, and Yoke Khin Yap, “Functionalization, Dispersion, and Cutting of Boron Nitride Nanotubes in Water,” The Journal of Physical Chemistry C 116 (2), 1798‐1804 (2012).
- Hessam M. Ghassemi, Chee Huei Lee, Yoke Khin Yap, and Reza S. Yassar, “In situ observation of reversible rippling in multi‐walled boron nitride nanotubes,” Nanotechnology 22 (11), 115702 (2011).
- Chee Huei Lee, Nick Johnson, Jaroslaw Drelich and Yoke Khin Yap, “The performance of superhydrophobic and superoleophilic carbon nanotube meshes in water–oil filtration,” Carbon 49, 669 (2011).
- Chee Huei Lee, Ming Xie, Vijaya Kayastha, Jiesheng Wang and Yoke Khin Yap, “Patterned Growth of Boron Nitride Nanotubes by Catalytic Chemical Vapor Deposition,” Chem. Mater., 22 (5), 1782‐1787 (2010).
- Singaravelu Velayudham, Chee Huei Lee, Ming Xie, Dominique Blair, Nicholas Bauman, Yoke Khin Yap, Sarah A. Green, and Haiying Liu, “Noncovalent Functionalization of Boron Nitride Nanotubes with
- Poly(p‐phenylene‐ethynylene)s and Polythiophene,” ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2 (1), 104‐110 (2010).
- Chee Huei Lee, Jaroslaw Drelich, Yoke Khin Yap, “Superhydrophobicity of Boron Nitride Nanotubes Grown on Silicon Substrates,” Langmuir 25 (2009) 4853.
- Chee Huei Lee, Jiesheng Wang, Vijaya K. Kayastha, Jian Y. Huang, Yoke Khin Yap, “Effective growth of boron nitride nanotubes by thermal chemical vapor deposition,” Nanotechnology 19 (2008) 455605.
Book Chapters & Review Articles
- Jiesheng Wang, Chee Huei Lee, Yoke Khin Yap, “Recent Advancement on Boron Nitride Nanotubes”, Nanoscale, 2, 2028 (2010).
- Chee Huei Lee, Vijaya K. Kayastha, Jiesheng Wang, and Yoke Khin Yap, “Introduction to B-C-N materials,” in Chapter 1 of B-C-N Nanotubes and Related Nanostructures, Lecture Notes in Nanoscale Science and Technology (Springer), Vol. 6, Yoke Khin Yap (Ed.) (2009) pp 1-22.
- Jiesheng Wang, Chee Huei Lee, Yoshio Bando, Dmitri Golberg, and Yoke Khin Yap, “Multiwalled Boron Nitride Nanotubes: Growth, Properties, and applications,” in Chapter 2 of B-C-N Nanotubes and Related Nanostructures, Lecture Notes in Nanoscale Science and Technology (Springer), Vol. 6, Yoke Khin Yap (Ed.) (2009) pp 23-44.
- Chee Huei Lee, and Yoke Khin Yap, “Current Research Status of Boron-Carbon Nitride Bulks, Thin Films, and Nanostructures,” in Chapter 10 of Diamond and Related Materials Research (Nova Science Publisher, 2008) pp 277-292.
Research Highlights
Patterned growth of boron nitride nanotubes on a substrate (Chem. Mater. 2010, 22, 1782–1787))
Superhydrophobicity of BNNT films(Langmuir
, 2009, 25 (9), pp 4853–4860)