Timothy S. Fisher Explained

Timothy S. Fisher (born 1969) is an American educator, engineer and expert in the application of nanotechnologies.^[1] He is a former professor of mechanical engineering at the School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University and Director, Nanoscale Transport Research Group-Purdue University. He currently teaches at the University of California, Los Angeles. He took his Bachelor of Science and doctorate at Cornell University in 1991 and 1998, respectively. Fisher became the chair of mechanical and aerospace engineering department at University of California, Los Angeles, starting July 1, 2018.

Expertise

Fisher studies the impacts of nanotechnology development and its implications for energy conversions and efficiency.^[2] His own, individual academic work concentrates on nanoscale energy transport and conversion, synthesis of nanomaterials, cooling of microelectronics and microfluids. The group he directs also studies the transport and conversion of energy carried by electrons, phonons, and photons. Research focus includes applications in clean energy (e.g., direct energy conversion, hydrogen storage) and major industrial segments (e.g., micro/nanoelectronics, sensors).

Fisher is known for the Fisher Query in nanotechnology development, namely, “. . . before we can even think about using nanotubes in electronics, we have to learn how to put them where we want them.”^[3]

Inventor

Fisher was a member of the Purdue University engineering research team which developed a biosensor for detecting blood glucose and other biological molecules using hollow structures called single-wall carbon nanotubes anchored to gold-coated "nanocubes." The device resembled a cube-shaped tetherball. Each tetherball is a sensor. A nanotube anchors each tetherball to electronic circuitry which acts as both a tether and ultrathin wire to conduct electrical signals.^[4]

Sample Publications

• X.R. Zhang, T.S. Fisher, A. Raman, T.D. Sands, “Linear coefficient of thermal expansion of porous anodic alumina thin films from atomic force microscopy,” Nanoscale and Microscale Thermophysical Engineering, vol. 13, pp. 243–252, 2009.
• V. Khanikar, I. Mudawar, T.S. Fisher, “Flow boiling in a micro-channel coated with carbon nanotubes,” IEEE Transactions on Components and Packaging Technologies, vol. 32, pp. 639–649, 2009.
• K. Uppireddi, T.L. Westover, T.S. Fisher, B.R. Weiner, G. Morell, “Thermionic emission energy distribution from nanocrystalline diamond films for direct thermal-electrical energy conversion applications,” Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 106, art. no. 043716, 2009.
• V. Khanikar, I. Mudawar, T.S. Fisher, “Effects of carbon nanotube coating on flow boiling in a micro-channel,” International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol. 52, pp. 3805–3817, 2009.
• B.A. Cola, J. Xu, T.S. Fisher, “Contact mechanics and thermal conductance of carbon nanotube array interfaces,” International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol. 52, pp. 3490–3503, 2009.
• D.B. Go, T.S. Fisher, S.V. Garimella, V. Bahadur, “Planar microscale ionization devices in atmospheric air with diamond-based electrodes,” Plasma Sources Science & Technology, Vol. 18, art. no. 035004, 2009.
• D.B. Go, T.S. Fisher, S.V. Garimella, “Direct simulation of ionization and ion transport for planar microscale ion generation devices,” Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, Vol. 42, art. no. 055203, 2009.
• B.A. Cola, T.S. Fisher, X.F. Xu, “Carbon nanotube array thermal interfaces,” Ch. 6 (pp. 101–118) in Carbon Nanotubes: New Research, ed. A. P. Ottenhouse, Nova Science Publishers, 2009.

Association

Fisher joined the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity at Cornell University, and through that organization, the Irving Literary Society.^[5]

External links

• Purdue University Biography
• Nanoscale Transport Research Group
• nanoHUB-U Course Thermal Energy at the Nanoscale

Notes and References

1. John F. Mongillo, 'Nano Interview: Professor Timothy Sands, PhD. Purdue University' in "Carbon Nanotubes, Nanowires and Nanocrystals," Nanotechnology 101 (Greenwood Press 2007) at 79.(identifying Professor Timothy S. Fisher as a subject-matter expert on carbon nanotubes); National Academy of Engineering, Frontiers of Engineering: Reports on Leading-Edge Engineering from the 2007 Symposium (The National Academies Press)(Washington, D.C. 2008)189
2. Wade Adams & Amy Myers Jaffe, Nanotechnology and Our Energy Challenge, Nanotechnology as a Tool for Sustainability in Environmental Nanotechnology: Applications and Impacts of Nanomaterials 22 (Mark R. Wiesner & Jean-Yves Bottero, eds.)(McGraw Hill 2007).
3. Reiner Hartenstein and TU Kaiserslauten, Reconfigurable Computing in Designing Embedded Processors: A Low Power Perspective (Springer Publishing 2007) (Jorg Henkel and Sri Parameswaran, eds.) at 476.
4. Nano-tetherball biosensor precisely detects glucose, Nanotechwire.com (Jan. 22, 2009) .
5. Cornell University Residence Plan of 1966, Schedule I, Appendix A (May 3, 1966)(see sixth page of document noting the relationship between Phi Kappa Psi and the Irving Literary Society)); see also’’, List of Phi Kappa Psi/Irving Literary Society Members (Aug. 18, 2011).