Prof. Yoel Fink

Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Primary DLC

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

MIT Room: 36-864

Assistant

Drew Houser
drewh@mit.edu

Areas of Interest and Expertise

Omni-Directional Reflectors
Photonic Fibers
Quantum Communication
Self-Assembled Block Copolymers
Biocompatible Photonic Crystals
All-Optical Devices
Photonic Bandgap Materials

Research Summary

Professor Fink's research interests are in the theory, design, fabrication and characterization of multimaterial multifunctional fibers and fiber assemblies. Fibers are among the earliest forms of human expression, yet surprisingly have remained unchanged from ancient to modern times. Prof. Fink’s group asks the questions: Can fibers become highly functional devices? Can they See, Hear, Sense and Communicate? Their research focuses on extending the frontiers of fiber materials from optical transmission to encompass electronic, optoelectronic and even acoustic properties. What makes their fibers unique is the combination of a multiplicity of disparate materials arranged in elaborate geometries with features down to 10 nanometers. Two complementary approaches towards realizing sophisticated functions are utilized: on the single-fiber level, the integration of a multiplicity of functional components into one fiber, and on the multiple-fiber level, the assembly of large-scale fiber arrays and fabrics. Their multimaterial fibers offer unprecedented control over material properties and function on length scales spanning the nanometer to kilometer range.

Recent Work

  • Video

    Yoel Fink - 2018 RD Conference

    November 21, 2018Conference Video Duration: 40:29

    From Moore’s Law to Fabric as a Service

    Our clothes help define us, yet the fabrics we wear have remained functionally unchanged for thousands of years. Recent breakthroughs in fiber materials and manufacturing processes allow us to design and wear fabrics that see, hear, communicate, change color, and monitor health — heralding the dawn of a “fabric revolution.” Our mission at Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) is to lead the convergence of advanced technology into fibers (“Moore’s Law for fibers”) resulting in fabric products that deliver value-added services to the user (“Fabrics as a service”).

    2018 MIT Research and Development Conference

    Weaving the Fabrics of Change

    October 16, 2018MIT Faculty Feature Duration: 24:46

    Yoel Fink
    Professor of Materials Science and Electrical Engineering, MIT
    CEO, AFFOA