headshot of Paul Leu

Paul Leu

Professor
B.P Faculty Fellow
pleu@pitt.edu
(412) 624-9834
Research Group Website Google Scholar Profile Industrial Engineering

overview

Dr. Paul W. Leu received his Ph.D. from Stanford University and worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkeley before joining the University of Pittsburgh as faculty in 2010. He is currently a Professor and B.P. America Faculty Fellow in the Industrial Engineering Department at the University of Pittsburgh. He has been recipient of the Oak Ridge Associated University Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award, UPS Minority Advancement Award, and the NSF CAREER Award. He is also co-Director of the NSF Industry University Cooperative Research Center called MDS-Rely (mds-rely.org) with Case Western Reserve University. His research has been showcased in Industrial Engineering magazine, Pittsburgh NPR, and Pittsburgh Magazine.

about

(2012) Pitt Innovation in Education Award.

(2012) Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award.

(2006) Harvey Fellow.

(2002) Burt and Deedee McMurtry Stanford Graduate Fellow.

(2002) National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow.

(2001) Buckley-Sartwelle Scholarship.

(2000) Louis J. Walsh Scholarship in Engineering.

(1998) Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholar.

(1998) W.L. Moody, Jr. Scholarship in Engineering.

Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, 2008

M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Solid Mechanics specialization, Stanford University, 2004

B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Rice University, 2002

Martin, K., Shanks, K., Liu, Y., Kim, J., Haghanifar, S., Zarei, M., Sharma, S., & Leu, P.W. (2024). Minimizing annual reflection loss in fixed-tilt photovoltaic modules using graded refractive index (GRIN) anti-reflective glass. SOLAR ENERGY, 272, 112424.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.solener.2024.112424.

Tao, M., Druffel, T., Farag, A., Mcloughlin, K., & Leu, P.W. (2024). Design changes for improved circularity of silicon solar modules. ONE EARTH, 7(2), 171-174.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.oneear.2024.01.020.

Zarei, M., Li, M., Papazekos, E., Su, Y.D., Sinha, S., Walker, S.B., Lemieux, M., Ohodnicki, P.R., & Leu, P.W. (2024). Single- and Double-Layer Embedded Metal Meshes for Flexible, Highly Transparent Electromagnetic Interference Shielding. ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES, 9(10).Wiley. doi: 10.1002/admt.202302057.

Haghanifar, S., Lu, P., Kayes, M.I., Tan, S., Kim, K.J., Gao, T., Ohodnicki, P., & Leu, P.W. (2023). Self-cleaning, high transmission, near unity haze OTS/silica nanostructured glass (vol 6, pg 9191, 2018). JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C, 11(8), 3127.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/d3tc90031b.

Kayes, M.I., Zarei, M., Feng, F., & Leu, P.W. (2023). Black silicon spacing effect on bactericidal efficacy against gram-positive bacteria. Nanotechnology, 35(2), 025102.IOP Publishing. doi: 10.1088/1361-6528/acfe16.

Li, M., Zarei, M., Galante, A.J., Pilsbury, B., Walker, S.B., LeMieux, M., & Leu, P.W. (2023). Stretchable and wash durable reactive silver ink coatings for electromagnetic interference shielding, Joule heating, and strain sensing textiles. PROGRESS IN ORGANIC COATINGS, 179, 107506.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.porgcoat.2023.107506.

Zarei, M., Loy, J.C., Li, M., Zhou, Z., Sinha, S., LeMieux, M., Walker, S.B., Rand, B.P., & Leu, P.W. (2023). Substrate-embedded metal meshes for ITO-free organic light emitting diodes. Opt Express, 31(21), 34697-34707.Optica Publishing Group. doi: 10.1364/OE.499932.

Galante, A.J., Pilsbury, B.C., Yates, K.A., LeMieux, M., Bain, D.J., Shanks, R.M.Q., Romanowski, E.G., & Leu, P.W. (2022). Reactive silver inks for antiviral, repellent medical textiles with ultrasonic bleach washing durability compared to silver nanoparticles. In Annamalai, P.K. (Ed.). PLoS One, 17(9), e0270718.Public Library of Science (PLoS). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270718.

Galante, A.J., Yates, K.A., Romanowski, E.G., Shanks, R.M.Q., & Leu, P.W. (2022). Coal-Derived Functionalized Nano-Graphene Oxide for Bleach Washable, Durable Antiviral Fabric Coatings. ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS, 5(1), 718-728.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acsanm.1c03448.

Haghanifar, S., & Leu, P.W. (2022). Detailed balance analysis of vertical GaAs nanowire array solar cells: exceeding the Shockley Queisser limit. Opt Express, 30(10), 16145-16158.Optica Publishing Group. doi: 10.1364/OE.455663.

Haghanifar, S., Galante, A.J., Zarei, M., Chen, J., Tan, S., & Leu, P.W. (2022). Mechanically durable, super-repellent 3D printed microcell/nanoparticle surfaces. NANO RESEARCH, 15(6), 5678-5686.Springer Nature. doi: 10.1007/s12274-022-4139-3.

Li, M., McCourt, M.J., Galante, A.J., & Leu, P.W. (2022). Bayesian optimization of nanophotonic electromagnetic shielding with very high visible transparency. Opt Express, 30(18), 33182-33194.Optica Publishing Group. doi: 10.1364/OE.468843.

Sharma, S.P., & Leu, P.W. (2021). Solar module orientation and tracking type performance and optimization. JOURNAL OF PHOTONICS FOR ENERGY, 11(4), 045501.SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics. doi: 10.1117/1.JPE.11.045501.

Zhou, Z., Walker, S.B., LeMieux, M., & Leu, P.W. (2021). Polymer-Embedded Silver Microgrids by Particle-Free Reactive Inks for Flexible High-Performance Transparent Conducting Electrodes. ACS APPLIED ELECTRONIC MATERIALS, 3(5), 2079-2086.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acsaelm.1c00107.

Galante, A.J., Haghanifar, S., Romanowski, E.G., Shanks, R.M.Q., & Leu, P.W. (2020). Superhemophobic and Antivirofouling Coating for Mechanically Durable and Wash-Stable Medical Textiles. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 12(19), 22120-22128.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acsami.9b23058.

Galante, A.J., Haghanifar, S., Romanowski, E.G., Shanks, R.M.Q., & Leu, P.W. (2020). Correction to Superhemophobic and Antivirofouling Coating for Mechanically Durable and Wash-Stable Medical Textiles. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 12(26), 30016.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acsami.0c08966.

Haghanifar, S., Galante, A.J., & Leu, P.W. (2020). Challenges and Prospects of Bio-Inspired and Multifunctional Transparent Substrates and Barrier Layers for Optoelectronics. ACS Nano, 14(12), 16241-16265.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acsnano.0c06452.

Haghanifar, S., McCourt, M., Cheng, B., Wuenschell, J., Ohodnicki, P., & Leu, P.W. (2020). Discovering high-performance broadband and broad angle antireflection surfaces by machine learning. OPTICA, 7(7), 784-789.Optica Publishing Group. doi: 10.1364/OPTICA.387938.

Xu, Z., Zhou, Z., Li, B., Wang, G., & Leu, P.W. (2020). Identification of Efficient Active Sites in Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotubes for Oxygen Reduction Reaction. JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C, 124(16), 8689-8696.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.9b11090.

Haghanifar, S., McCourt, M., Cheng, B., Wuenschell, J., Ohodnicki, P., & Leu, P.W. (2019). Creating glasswing butterfly-inspired durable antifogging superomniphobic supertransmissive, superclear nanostructured glass through Bayesian learning and optimization. MATERIALS HORIZONS, 6(8), 1632-1642.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/c9mh00589g.

Haghanifar, S., Tomasovic, L.M., Galante, A.J., Pekker, D., & Leu, P.W. (2019). Stain-resistant, superomniphobic flexible optical plastics based on nano-enoki mushroom-like structures. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A, 7(26), 15698-15706.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/c9ta01753d.

Zhou, Z., Gao, T., McCarthy, S., Kozbial, A., Tan, S., Pekker, D., Li, L., & Leu, P.W. (2019). Parahydrophobicity and stick-slip wetting dynamics of vertically aligned carbon nanotube forests. CARBON, 152, 474-481.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.carbon.2019.06.012.

Gao, T., Haghanifar, S., Lindsay, M.G., Lu, P., Kayes, M.I., Pafchek, B.D., Zhou, Z., Ohodnicki, P.R., & Leu, P.W. (2018). Fundamental Performance Limits and Haze Evaluation of Metal Nanomesh Transparent Conductors. ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS, 6(9).Wiley. doi: 10.1002/adom.201700829.

Haghanifar, S., Lu, P., Kayes, M.I., Tan, S., Kim, K.J., Gao, T., Ohodnicki, P., & Leu, P.W. (2018). Self-cleaning, high transmission, near unity haze OTS/silica nanostructured glass. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C, 6(34), 9191-9199.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/c8tc02513d.

Haghanifar, S., Rodriguez De Vecchis, R.T., Kim, K.J., Wuenschell, J., Sharma, S.P., Lu, P., Ohodnicki, P., & Leu, P.W. (2018). Flexible nanograss with highest combination of transparency and haze for optoelectronic plastic substrates. Nanotechnology, 29(42), 42LT01.IOP Publishing. doi: 10.1088/1361-6528/aad671.

Kayes, M.I., Galante, A.J., Stella, N.A., Haghanifar, S., Shanks, R.M.Q., & Leu, P.W. (2018). Stable lotus leaf-inspired hierarchical, fluorinated polypropylene surfaces for reduced bacterial adhesion. REACTIVE & FUNCTIONAL POLYMERS, 128, 40-46.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2018.04.013.

Nguyen, T.B., Liu, D., Kayes, M.I., Wang, B., Rashin, N., Leu, P.W., & Tran, T. (2018). Critical heat flux enhancement in pool boiling through increased rewetting on nanopillar array surfaces. Sci Rep, 8(1), 4815.Springer Nature. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-22693-z.

Wang, B., Gao, T., Zhou, Z., Bradley, P., & Leu, P.W. (2018). Frontside scattering structures for enhanced performance in flexible ultrathin crystalline silicon solar cells. JOURNAL OF PHOTONICS FOR ENERGY, 8(3), 030501.SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics. doi: 10.1117/1.JPE.8.030501.

Gao, T., Wang, B., & Leu, P.W. (2017). Plasmonic nanomesh sandwiches for ultrathin film silicon solar cells. JOURNAL OF OPTICS, 19(2), 025901.IOP Publishing. doi: 10.1088/2040-8986/19/2/025901.

Haghanifar, S., Gao, T., De Vecchis, R.T.R., Pafchek, B., Jacobs, T.D.B., & Leu, P.W. (2017). Ultrahigh-transparency, ultrahigh-haze nanograss glass with fluid-induced switchable haze. OPTICA, 4(12), 1522-1525.Optica Publishing Group. doi: 10.1364/OPTICA.4.001522.

Huang, P.S., Qin, F., Xiong, Z., Shim, H.W., Gao, T., Leu, P., & Lee, J.K. (2017). Novel Carrier Doping Mechanism for Transparent Conductor: Electron Donation from Embedded Ag Nanoparticles to the Oxide Matrix. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 9(23), 19973-19979.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acsami.7b03871.

Wang, B., Chen, K.P., & Leu, P.W. (2016). Engineering inverse woodpile and woodpile photonic crystal solar cells for light trapping. Nanotechnology, 27(22), 225404.IOP Publishing. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/27/22/225404.

Wang, B., Gao, T., & Leu, P.W. (2016). Broadband light absorption enhancement in ultrathin film crystalline silicon solar cells with high index of refraction nanosphere arrays. NANO ENERGY, 19, 471-475.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2015.10.039.

Gao, T., Huang, P.S., Lee, J.K., & Leu, P.W. (2015). Hierarchical metal nanomesh/microgrid structures for high performance transparent electrodes. RSC ADVANCES, 5(87), 70713-70717.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/c5ra14851k.

Gao, T., Li, Z., Huang, P.S., Shenoy, G.J., Parobek, D., Tan, S., Lee, J.K., Liu, H., & Leu, P.W. (2015). Hierarchical graphene/metal grid structures for stable, flexible transparent conductors. ACS Nano, 9(5), 5440-5446.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acsnano.5b01243.

Wang, B., & Leu, P.W. (2015). High index of refraction nanosphere coatings for light trapping in crystalline silicon thin film solar cells. NANO ENERGY, 13, 226-232.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2014.10.040.

Yan, A., Poole, Z.L., Chen, R., Leu, P.W., Ohodnicki, P., & Chen, K.P. (2015). Scalable Fabrication of Metal Oxide Functional Materials and Their Applications in High-Temperature Optical Sensing. JOM, 67(1), 53-58.Springer Nature. doi: 10.1007/s11837-014-1235-1.

Ding, B., Gao, T., Wang, Y., Waldeck, D.H., Leu, P.W., & Lee, J.K. (2014). Synergistic effect of surface plasmonic particles in PbS/TiO2 heterojunction solar cells. SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS, 128, 386-393.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.solmat.2014.06.001.

Gao, T., Stevens, E., Lee, J.K., & Leu, P.W. (2014). Designing metal hemispheres on silicon ultrathin film solar cells for plasmonic light trapping. Opt Lett, 39(16), 4647-4650.Optica Publishing Group. doi: 10.1364/OL.39.004647.

Gao, T., Wang, B., Ding, B., Lee, J.K., & Leu, P.W. (2014). Uniform and ordered copper nanomeshes by microsphere lithography for transparent electrodes. Nano Lett, 14(4), 2105-2110.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/nl5003075.

Kayes, M.I., & Leu, P.W. (2014). Comparative study of absorption in tilted silicon nanowire arrays for photovoltaics. Nanoscale Res Lett, 9(1), 620.Springer Nature. doi: 10.1186/1556-276X-9-620.

Wang, B., Stevens, E., & Leu, P.W. (2014). Strong broadband absorption in GaAs nanocone and nanowire arrays for solar cells. Opt Express, 22 Suppl 2(S2), A386-A395.Optica Publishing Group. doi: 10.1364/OE.22.00A386.

Gao, T., & Leu, P.W. (2013). Copper nanowire arrays for transparent electrodes. JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS, 114(6), 063107.AIP Publishing. doi: 10.1063/1.4818498.

Gao, T., & Leu, P.W. (2013). The role of propagating modes in silver nanowire arrays for transparent electrodes. Opt Express, 21 Suppl 3(S3), A419-A429.Optica Publishing Group. doi: 10.1364/OE.21.00A419.

Hua, B., Wang, B., Yu, M., Leu, P.W., & Fan, Z. (2013). Rational geometrical design of multi-diameter nanopillars for efficient light harvesting. NANO ENERGY, 2(5), 951-957.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2013.03.016.

Wang, B., & Leu, P.W. (2012). Enhanced absorption in silicon nanocone arrays for photovoltaics. Nanotechnology, 23(19), 194003.IOP Publishing. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/23/19/194003.

Wang, B., & Leu, P.W. (2012). Tunable and selective resonant absorption in vertical nanowires. Opt Lett, 37(18), 3756-3758.Optica Publishing Group. doi: 10.1364/ol.37.003756.

WANG, B., GAO, T., & LEU, P.W. (2012). COMPUTATIONAL SIMULATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURED SOLAR CELLS. Nano LIFE, 2(02), 1230007.World Scientific Publishing. doi: 10.1142/s1793984411000517.

Fan, Z., Kapadia, R., Leu, P., Zhang, X., Chueh, Y.L., Takei, K., Yu, K., Jamshidi, A., Rathore, A.A., Ruebusch, D.J., Wu, M., & Javey, A. (2010). Ordered arrays of dual-diameter nanopillars for maximized optical absorption. Nano Letters. doi: 10.1021/n11010788.

Fan, Z., Kapadia, R., Leu, P.W., Zhang, X., Chueh, Y.L., Takei, K., Yu, K., Jamshidi, A., Rathore, A.A., Ruebusch, D.J., Wu, M., & Javey, A. (2010). Ordered arrays of dual-diameter nanopillars for maximized optical absorption. Nano Lett, 10(10), 3823-3827.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/nl1010788.

Ko, H., Takei, K., Kapadia, R., Chuang, S., Fang, H., Leu, P.W., Ganapathi, K., Plis, E., Kim, H.S., Chen, S.Y., Madsen, M., Ford, A.C., Chueh, Y.L., Krishna, S., Salahuddin, S., & Javey, A. (2010). Ultrathin compound semiconductor on insulator layers for high-performance nanoscale transistors. Nature, 468(7321), 286-289.Springer Nature. doi: 10.1038/nature09541.

McIntyre, P.C., Adhikari, H., Goldthorpe, I.A., Hu, S., Leu, P.W., Marshall, A.F., & Chidsey, C.E.D. (2010). Group IV semiconductor nanowire arrays: epitaxy in different contexts. SEMICONDUCTOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, 25(2), 024016.IOP Publishing. doi: 10.1088/0268-1242/25/2/024016.

Takei, K., Takahashi, T., Ho, J.C., Ko, H., Gillies, A.G., Leu, P.W., Fearing, R.S., & Javey, A. (2010). Nanowire active-matrix circuitry for low-voltage macroscale artificial skin. Nat Mater, 9(10), 821-826.Springer Nature. doi: 10.1038/nmat2835.

Fan, Z., Razavi, H., Do, J.W., Moriwaki, A., Ergen, O., Chueh, Y.L., Leu, P.W., Ho, J.C., Takahashi, T., Reichertz, L.A., Neale, S., Yu, K., Wu, M., Ager, J.W., & Javey, A. (2009). Three-dimensional nanopillar-array photovoltaics on low-cost and flexible substrates. Nat Mater, 8(8), 648-653.Springer Nature. doi: 10.1038/nmat2493.

Fan, Z., Ruebusch, D.J., Rathore, A.A., Kapadia, R., Ergen, O., Leu, P.W., & Javey, A. (2009). Challenges and Prospects of Nanopillar-Based Solar Cells. NANO RESEARCH, 2(11), 829-843.Tsinghua University Press. doi: 10.1007/s12274-009-9091-y.

Ho, J.C., Ford, A.C., Chueh, Y.L., Leu, P.W., Ergen, O., Takei, K., Smith, G., Majhi, P., Bennett, J., & Javey, A. (2009). Nanoscale doping of InAs via sulfur monolayers. APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 95(7), 072108.AIP Publishing. doi: 10.1063/1.3205113.

Hu, S., Leu, P.W., Marshall, A.F., & McIntyre, P.C. (2009). Single-crystal germanium layers grown on silicon by nanowire seeding. Nat Nanotechnol, 4(10), 649-653.Springer Nature. doi: 10.1038/nnano.2009.233.

Ko, H., Lee, J., Schubert, B.E., Chueh, Y., Leu, P., Fearing, R.S., & Javey, A. (2009). Hybrid core-shell nanowire forests as self-selective chemical connectors. Nano Letters, 9(5), 2054-2058. doi: 10.1021/n1900343b.

Ko, H., Lee, J., Schubert, B.E., Chueh, Y.L., Leu, P.W., Fearing, R.S., & Javey, A. (2009). Hybrid core-shell nanowire forests as self-selective chemical connectors. Nano Lett, 9(5), 2054-2058.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/nl900343b.

Koto, M., Leu, P.W., & McIntyre, P.C. (2009). Vertical Germanium Nanowire Arrays in Microfluidic Channels for Charged Molecule Detection. JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY, 156(2), K11-K16.The Electrochemical Society. doi: 10.1149/1.3033522.

Leu, P., Svizhenko, A., & Cho, K. (2008). Ab Initio study of the mechanical and electronic properties of strained silicon nanowires. Physical Review B, 77(23).

Leu, P.W., Adhikari, H., Koto, M., Kim, K.H., Rouffignac, P.D., Marshall, A.F., Gordon, R.G., Chidsey, C.E.D., & McIntyre, P.C. (2008). Oxide-encapsulated vertical germanium nanowire structures and their DC transport properties. Nanotechnology, 19(48), 485705.IOP Publishing. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/19/48/485705.

Leu, P.W., Svizhenko, A., & Cho, K. (2008). Ab initio calculations of the mechanical and electronic properties of strained Si nanowires. PHYSICAL REVIEW B, 77(23), 235305.American Physical Society (APS). doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.77.235305.

Svizhenko, A., Leu, P.W., & Cho, K. (2007). Effect of growth orientation and surface roughness on electron transport in silicon nanowires. PHYSICAL REVIEW B, 75(12), 125417.American Physical Society (APS). doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.75.125417.

Leu, P.W., Shan, B., & Cho, K. (2006). Surface chemical control of the electronic structure of silicon nanowires: Density functional calculations. PHYSICAL REVIEW B, 73(19), 195320.American Physical Society (APS). doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.73.195320.

Gao, T., Wang, B., Ding, B., Lee, J.K., & Leu, P.W. (2014). Uniform and Ordered Copper Nanomeshes by Microsphere Lithography for Transparent Electrodes (vol 14, pg 2105, 2014). MRS Spring Meeting.San Francisco, CA. doi: 10.1021/nl501687p.

Wang, B., Stevens, E., & Leu, P.W. (2014). Strong broadband absorption in GaAs nanocone and nanowire arrays for solar cells. In OPTICS EXPRESS, 22(5), (pp. A386-A395).Optica Publishing Group. doi: 10.1364/OE.22.00A386.

Gao, T., & Leu, P.W. (2013). The role of propagating modes in silver nanowire arrays for transparent electrodes. MRS Spring Meeting.San Francisco, CA. doi: 10.1364/OE.21.00A419.