LAB LOGA page on LabLog, a review site (not the lab's official page)
Kim Lab
Machine-translated · View original
The lab drives micromachines using electro-conjugate fluid (ECF).
AboutAbout the lab
Opening up the micro world with a sugar-cube-sized micro hydraulic pressure source
The Kim Lab studies micromechatronics based on a new principle, using electro-conjugate fluid (ECF).
The lab applies ECF to actuators, sensors, and control systems, for example by using small pumps driven by ECF jets (micropumps) as hydraulic pressure sources.
For fabrication, the lab combines MEMS technology and ultraprecision machining.
It also studies soft fingers and hands driven by ECF, and lenses with variable focus.
Key terms
- Electro-conjugate fluid (ECF)
- A functional fluid in which applying a voltage generates a strong flow (jet) within the liquid
- MEMS
- Extremely small machines and components made using the fine fabrication techniques of semiconductor manufacturing
- Actuator
- A device that converts energy such as electricity or fluid pressure into motion or force
NewsLab news
A doctoral student received the Machine Design and Tribology Division General Award (Encouragement Lecture) at ICMDT2025
A paper by Professor Kim and colleagues was published in Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering
A paper by Professor Kim and colleagues was published in JFPS International Journal of Fluid Power System
A paper by Professor Kim and colleagues was published in Sensors and Actuators A: Physical
A doctoral student received a Young Researcher Award at an international symposium on biomedical and dental engineering
ResearchResearch themes
The lab aims at advanced micromechatronics using MEMS technology and its applications. Centered on ECF-driven micropumps, it studies liquid cooling, lenses, soft actuators, gyroscopes, and more.
*Illustrative imageECF Pump with Triangular Prism and Slit Electrodes
This research focuses on a small pump (micropump) that combines triangular-prism-shaped electrodes and slit-shaped electrodes to pump liquid using ECF flow.
*Illustrative imageLiquid Cooling with ECF Pumps
The lab studies liquid cooling systems that use ECF-driven micropumps to force liquid to flow and cool objects.
*Illustrative imageSmall Lens with Variable Focus
This research focuses on a small lens (microlens) whose focus can be changed using ECF jets. The lens is fabricated with MEMS technology.
*Illustrative imageBalloon-Type Microactuator
This research focuses on small balloon-shaped actuators (microactuators) driven by ECF.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Kim Lab consist of faculty and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2023
- ProfessorJoon-Wan KimPublications ↗
VoicesStudent voices
Ratings and reviews reflect the experiences of individual current or former students, not the lab's official views. Whether a lab has reviews, or how many, says nothing about the lab itself.
Students who take part in an interview may receive a thank-you gift worth ¥1,000, regardless of what they say.
Student ratings (0 students)
--
--
--
--
--
--
Student voices answer questions like these
- What's great about this lab?
- What did you learn after joining?
- What's the vibe, and what is the professor like?
- Who is this lab for?
- Where do graduates go?
Your experience can help younger students choose their lab. Your name won't be shown.
Write a lab reviewAnonymous · Your draft is saved if you stopRelatedLabs similar to Kim Lab
Shinshi LabSchool of Engineering, Department of Mechanical EngineeringApplications of micro/nanomechatronics to medical and precis…
Takayama LabSchool of Engineering, Department of Mechanical EngineeringMechanism theory, microfluidic devices
Nisisako LabSchool of Engineering, Department of Mechanical EngineeringMicro/nanofluidics and interface science
Ishida LabSchool of Engineering, Department of Mechanical EngineeringRobotic grasping, surgical robots, and bio-microdevicesThe information on this page is compiled by the LabLog team from the lab's public information and interviews. For corrections or removal requests, please contact LabLog, not the lab.
Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Bug 1c” Sandia National Laboratories / Public domain (cropped)
- ECF Pump with Triangular Prism and Slit Electrodes: “Lab on a Chip ( )” National Institute of Standards and Technology / Public domain (cropped)
- Liquid Cooling with ECF Pumps: “IZM Silicon Micropump” Micropump / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Small Lens with Variable Focus: “Nanoimprint mold of a diffractive lens” Alexander Koshelev / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Balloon-Type Microactuator: “Inflatable Robotic Arm” Z22 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Shinshi Lab): “Science show magnetic levitation” Roberto Arias from London, United Kingdom / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Takayama Lab): “Worm drive ( )” Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Nisisako Lab): “T Junction Microfluidic Device” Wongbria / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Ishida Lab): “Microfluidic chip for point-of-care medical devices” FMNLab / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
About LabLog
LabLog is a lab review app for students only. Student members at each university interview students in labs and publish what they say. Student voices can only be read by students who sign up with a university email address. Operated by bestiee Inc.
Learn more about LabLog ↗Search engines and AI may reference the basic lab info and rating summaries on this page and the description of LabLog. Student voices are for student members only. Automated collection by programs (scraping, or input to or training of AI) is prohibited under Article 8 of the Terms of Service. If you need data for research or analysis, please contact us.