Electrical modulation
Using electric fields and electrochemical driving forces to control ion transport, mineral nucleation, and scale formation at water interfaces.
The Liu Group
Electrical and MAterials Modulation for Circular Water Separations
EMACS Lab · South Dakota State UniversityWelcome
About our research
Welcome to the EMACS Lab at South Dakota State University, where we use electrical and materials modulation to advance circular water separations.
We are a curious, collaborative research team working at the intersection of environmental engineering, interfacial science, and materials design. By linking molecular-scale mechanisms with electrochemical, membrane, and thermal processes, we control ions, minerals, and water at interfaces—enabling selective resource recovery, scaling-resistant systems, and high-recovery treatment of complex brines.
We are recruiting.
Explore our research →We currently have openings for motivated Ph.D. students and are actively recruiting motivated M.S. and B.S. students. Interested students should email Dr. Yiming Liu at yiming.liu@sdstate.edu with a single PDF containing their CV and academic transcript, along with a brief statement of interest in the email.
Research directionsModulating interfaces.
Modulating interfaces.
Closing water loops.
Materials modulation
Designing functional sorbents, membranes, and interfaces that tune selectivity and transport for recovery of critical minerals from complex waters.
Circular water separations
Integrating membrane, electrochemical, and thermal separations to recover water and resources from brines while minimizing waste and energy demand.
Latest
All news →News & highlights
Founding President Best Paper Award
Chinese-American Professors in Environmental Engineering and Science
Outstanding Oral Presentation Award
19th Chinese Environmental Conference
New work in Nature Communications
Electrical control of CaCO3 nucleation and crystal growth
Collaboration
Interested in working together?
We welcome conversations with researchers, students, and partners working on electrically controlled interfaces, selective materials, critical-mineral recovery, and circular treatment of challenging waters.
Join the group →