Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Commons^™

Exosomes Derived From Differentiated Human Admsc With The Schwann Cell Phenotype Modulate Peripheral Nerve-Related Cellular Functions, Bo Liu, Yunfan Kong, Wen Shi, Mitchell Kuss, Ke Liao, Guoku Hu, Peng Xiao, Jagadesan Sankarasubramanian, Chittibabu Guda, Xinglong Wang, Yuguo Lei, Bin Duan

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Peripheral nerve regeneration remains a significant clinical challenge due to the unsatisfactory functional recovery and public health burden. Exosomes, especially those derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), are promising as potential cell-free therapeutics and gene therapy vehicles for promoting neural regeneration. In this study, we reported the differentiation of human adipose derived MSCs (hADMSCs) towards the Schwann cell (SC) phenotype (hADMSC-SCs) and then isolated exosomes from hADMSCs with and without differentiation (i.e., dExo vs uExo). We assessed and compared the effects of uExo and dExo on antioxidative, angiogenic, antiinflammatory, and axon growth promoting properties by using various peripheral nerve-related cells. …

Material Characterization And Comparison Of Sol-Gel Deposited And Rf Magnetron Deposited Lead Zirconate Titanate Thin Films, Katherine Lynne Miles

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) has been a material of interest for sensor, actuator, and transducer applications in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). This is due to their favorable piezoelectric, pyroelectric and ferroelectric properties. While various methods are available to deposit PZT thin films, radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering was selected to provide high quality PZT films with the added capability of batch processing. These sputter deposited PZT films were characterized to determine their internal film stress, Young’s modulus, composition, and structure. After characterization, the sputtered PZT samples were poled using corona poling and direct poling methods. As a means of comparison, commercially …

Phase Space Analysis Of Nonlinear Wave Propagation In A Bistable Mechanical Metamaterial With A Defect, Mohammed A. Mohammed, Piyush Grover

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

We study the dynamics of solitary waves traveling in a one-dimensional chain of bistable elements in the presence of a local inhomogeneity (“defect”). Numerical simulations reveal that depending upon its initial speed, an incoming solitary wave can get transmitted, captured, or reflected upon interaction with the defect. The dynamics are dominated by energy exchange between the wave and a breather mode localized at the defect. We derive a reduced-order two degree of freedom Hamiltonian model for wave-breather interaction and analyze it using dynamical systems techniques. Lobe dynamics analysis reveals the fine structure of phase space that leads to the complicated …

Feedforward Control Of Thermal History In Laser Powder Bed Fusion: Toward Physics-Based Optimization Of Processing Parameters, Alex Riensche, Benjamin D. Bevans, Ziyad M. Smoqi, Reza Yavari, Ajay Krishnan, Josie Gilligan, Nicholas Piercy, Kevin D. Cole, Prahalada K. Rao

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

We developed and applied a model-driven feedforward control approach to mitigate thermal-induced flaw formation in laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) additive manufacturing process. The key idea was to avert heat buildup in a LPBF part before it is printed by adapting process parameters layer-by-layer based on insights from a physics-based thermal simulation model. The motivation being to replace cumbersome empirical build-and-test parameter optimization with a physics-guided strategy. The approach consisted of three steps: prediction, analysis, and correction. First, the temperature distribution of a part was predicted rapidly using a graph theory-based computational thermal model. Second, the model-derived thermal trends were …

Design Of Arbitrary Planar Optical Devices With Full Phase Control Using Nanoimprinting Of Refractive Index, Matthew Panipinto

All Theses

Planar optical devices offer a lightweight solution to the constraints found in traditional optical devices. While subwavelength patterning of optics offers attractive performance and size, traditional fabrication methods demand a trade-off between resolution and throughput that presents a significant hurdle for the widespread use of subwavelength devices. Nanoimprinting of refractive index (NIRI) is a novel fabrication method pioneered in previous work that offers promise in mitigating the throughput issues that hamstring traditional fabrication methods. However, NIRI has not been shown to impart full $2\pi$ phase control in planar optical devices, nor has a method for fabricating arbitrary designs using the …

A Method Of Assessing Peripheral Stent Abrasiveness Under Cyclic Deformations Experienced During Limb Movement, Courtney Keiser, Kaspars Maleckis, Pauline Struczewska, Majid Jadidi, Jason N. Mactaggart, Alexey Kamenskiy

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Poor outcomes of peripheral arterial disease stenting are often attributed to the inability of stents to accommodate the complex biomechanics of the flexed lower limb. Abrasion damage caused by rubbing of the stent against the artery wall during limb movement plays a significant role in reconstruction failure but has not been characterized. Our goals were to develop a method of assessing the abrasiveness of peripheral nitinol stents and apply it to several commercial devices. Misago, AbsolutePro, Innova, Zilver, SmartControl, SmartFlex, and Supera stents were deployed inside electrospun nanofibrillar tubes with femoropopliteal artery-mimicking mechanical properties and subjected to cyclic axial compression …

Revealing The Pulse-Induced Electroplasticity By Decoupling Electron Wind Force, Xing Li, Qi Zhu, Youran Hong, He Zheng, Jian Wang, Jiangwei Wang, Ze Zhang

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Micro/nano electromechanical systems and nanodevices often suffer from degradation under electrical pulse. However, the origin of pulse-induced degradation remains an open question. Herein, we investigate the defect dynamics in Au nanocrystals under pulse conditions. By decoupling the electron wind force via a properly-designed in situ TEM electropulsing experiment, we reveal a non-directional migration of Σ3{112} incoherent twin boundary upon electropulsing, in contrast to the expected directional migration under electron wind force. Quantitative analyses demonstrate that such exceptional incoherent twin boundary migration is governed by the electron-dislocation interaction that enhances the atom vibration at dislocation cores, rather than driven by the …

Electrochemical Syntheses Of Nanomaterials And Small Molecules For Electrolytic Hydrogen Production, Jia-Qi Wei, Xiao-Dong Chen, Shu-Zhou Li

Journal of Electrochemistry

Hydrogen is a clean, efficient, renewable energy resource and the most promising alternative to fossil fuels for future carbon-neutral energy supply. Therefore, sustainable hydrogen production is highly attractive and urgently demanded, especially via water electrolysis that has clean, abundant precursors and zero emission. However, current water electrolysis is hindered by the sluggish kinetics and low cost/energy efficiency of both hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this regard, electrochemical synthesis offers prospects to raise the efficiency and benefit of water electrolysis by fabricating advanced electrocatalysts and providing more efficient/value-adding co-electrolysis alternatives. It is an eco-friendly and facile …

Highly Efficient, Perfect, Large Angular And Ultrawideband Solar Energy Absorber For Uv To Mir Range, Shobhit K. Patel, Arun Kumar Udayakumar, G. Mahendran, B. Vasudevan, Jaymit Surve, Juveriya Parmar

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Although different materials and designs have been tried in search of the ideal as well as ultrawideband light absorber, achieving ultra-broadband and robust unpolarized light absorption over a wide angular range has proven to be a major issue. Light-field regulation capabilities provided by optical metamaterials are a potential new technique for perfect absorbers. It is our goal to design and demonstrate an ultra-wideband solar absorber for the ultraviolet to a mid-infrared region that has an absorptivity of TE/TM light of 96.2% on average. In the visible, NIR, and MIR bands of the solar spectrum, the absorbed energy is determined to …

Finite Element-Based Machine Learning Model For Predicting The Mechanical Properties Of Composite Hydrogels, Yasin Shokrollahi, Pengfei Dong, Peshala T. Gamage, Nashaita Patrawalla, Vipuil Kishore, Hozhabr Mozafari, Linxia Gu

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

In this study, a finite element (FE)-based machine learning model was developed to predict the mechanical properties of bioglass (BG)-collagen (COL) composite hydrogels. Based on the experimental observation of BG-COL composite hydrogels with scanning electron microscope, 2000 microstructural images with randomly distributed BG particles were created. The BG particles have diameters ranging from 0.5 μm to 1.5 μm and a volume fraction from 17% to 59%. FE simulations of tensile testing were performed for calculating the Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio of 2000 microstructures. The microstructural images and the calculated Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio by FE simulation were used …

Large Refrigerant Capacity In Superparamagnetic Iron Nanoparticles Embedded In A Thin Film Matrix, Kaushik Sarkar, Surabhi Shaji, Jeffrey E. Shield, Christian H. Binek, Dhananjay Kumar

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

A magnetocaloric effect (MCE) with sizable isothermal entropy change (ΔS) maintained over a broad range of temperatures above the blocking temperature is reported for a rare earth-free superparamagnetic nanoparticle system comprising of Fe–TiN heterostructure. Superparamagnetic iron (Fe) particles were embedded in a titanium nitride (TiN) thin film matrix in a TiN/Fe/TiN multilayered pattern using a pulsed laser deposition method. High angle annular dark-field images in conjunction with dispersive energy analysis, recorded using scanning transmission electron microscopy, show a clear presence of alternating layers of Fe and TiN with a distinct atomic number contrast between Fe particles and TiN. Quantitative information …

A Nanofiber-Embedded Microfluidic Platform For Studying Neurobiology, Donghee Lee, Navatha Shree Sharma, S. M. Shatil Shahriar, Kai Yang, Zheng Yan, Jingwei Xie

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Due to their biomimetic properties, electrospun nanofibers have been widely used in neurobiology studies. However, mechanistic understanding of cell-nanofiber interactions is challenging based on the current in vitro culture systems due to the lack of control of spatiotemporal patterning of cells and difficulty in monitoring single cell behavior. To overcome these issues, we apply microfluidic technology in combination with electrospun nanofibers for in vitro studies of interactions between neurons and nanofiber materials. We demonstrate a unique nanofiber embedded microfluidic device which contains patterned aligned or random electrospun nanofibers as a new culture system. With this device, we test how different …

Preface For Millard Beatty, E. Baesu, Roger Fosdick

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Professor Beatty has contributed a wide variety of research papers and book articles on topics in finite elasticity, continuum mechanics and classical mechanics, including some fundamental experimental work. His works are clear and informative and expose a didactic quality. In the following, we briefly touch upon some of the highlights of his research involvement throughout the years.

Bi-Substituted Ferrite Garnet Type Magneto-Optic Materials Studied At Esri Nano-Fabrication Laboratories, Ecu, Australia, Mohammad Nur-E-Alam, Mikhail Vasiliev, Kamal Alameh

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Since 2007, at the Electron Science Research Institute (ESRI) nano-fabrication laboratories, Edith Cowan University, Australia, we have devoted research efforts to the synthesis and characterization of bismuth-containing ferrite-garnet-type thin-film magneto-optic (MO) materials of different compositions. We report on the growth and characteristics of radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtered bismuth-substituted iron-garnet thin films. We study the process parameters associated with the RF magnetron sputter deposition technique and investigate the results of optimizing process parameters. To achieve the best MO properties, we employ a few unique techniques, such as co-sputtered nanocomposite films and all-garnet multilayer structures, as well as the application of …

Machine Learning-Based Peripheral Artery Disease Identification Using Laboratory-Based Gait Data, Ali Al-Ramini, Mahdi Hassan, Farahnaz Fallahtafti, Mohammad Ali Takallou, Hafizur Rahman, Basheer Qolomany, Iraklis I. Pipinos, Fadi M. Alsaleem, Sara A. Myers

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) manifests from atherosclerosis, which limits blood flow to the legs and causes changes in muscle structure and function, and in gait performance. PAD is underdiagnosed, which delays treatment and worsens clinical outcomes. To overcome this challenge, the purpose of this study is to develop machine learning (ML) models that distinguish individuals with and without PAD. This is the first step to using ML to identify those with PAD risk early. We built ML models based on previously acquired overground walking biomechanics data from patients with PAD and healthy controls. Gait signatures were characterized using ankle, knee, …

Machine Learning-Based Peripheral Artery Disease Identification Using Laboratory-Based Gait Data, Ali Al-Ramini, Mahdi Hassan, Farahnaz Fallahtafti, Mohammad Ali Takallou, Basheer Qolomany, Iraklis I. Pipinos, Fadi Alsaleem, Sara A. Myers

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) manifests from atherosclerosis, which limits blood flow to the legs and causes changes in muscle structure and function, and in gait performance. PAD is underdiagnosed, which delays treatment and worsens clinical outcomes. To overcome this challenge, the purpose of this study is to develop machine learning (ML) models that distinguish individuals with and without PAD. This is the first step to using ML to identify those with PAD risk early. We built ML models based on previously acquired overground walking biomechanics data from patients with PAD and healthy controls. Gait signatures were characterized using ankle, knee, …

Surface Structure Engineering Of Feni-Based Pre-Catalyst For Oxygen Evolution Reaction: A Mini Review, Jia-Xin Li, Li-Gang Feng

Journal of Electrochemistry

Nitrite, a widespread raw material, is harmful to human health for long-term consumption. At present, the detection methods of nitrite mainly include chemical analysis, fluorescence, ultraviolet spectrophotometry and chromatography. These methods have ideal sensitivity and selectivity, but also have some characteristics: cumbersome operation, expensive equipment and professional personnel. Therefore, the development of a simple and sensitive nitrite assay is of great significance. In this paper, the Au/rGO/FeOOH composite materials, which revealed good synergistic catalytic performance among the three elements in the composite, were prepared by simple hydrothermal method and reduction method for the first time with large specific surface area …

Self-Supporting Nife Ldhs@Co-Oh-Co3 Nanorod Array Electrode For Alkaline Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer, Dan-Dan Guo, Hong-Mei Yu, Jun Chi, Zhi-Gang Shao

Journal of Electrochemistry

The development of efficient and durable electrodes for anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWEs) is essential for hydrogen production. In this work, 2D NiFe layered double hydroxides (NiFe LDHs) nanosheets were grown on the 1D cobaltous carbonate hydroxide nanowires array (Co-OH-CO₃) and the unique 3D layered self-supporting nanorod array (NiFe LDHs@Co-OH-CO₃/NF) electrode was obtained. Importantly, we demonstrated an efficient and durable self-supporting NiFe LDHs@Co-OH-CO₃/NF electrode for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and as the anode of the AEMWE. In a three-electrode system, the self-supporting NiFe LDHs@Co-OH-CO₃/NF electrode showed excellent catalytic activity for OER, …

Design Of An Innovative Hybrid Sandwich Protective Device For Offshore Structures, Hozhabr Mozafari, Fabio Distefano, Gabriella Epasto, Linxia Gu, Emanoil Linul, Vincenzo Crupi

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Lightweight foam sandwich structures have excellent energy absorption capacity, combined with good mechanical properties and low density. The main goal of this study is to test the application of an innovative hybrid sandwich protective device in an offshore wind turbine (OWT). The results are useful for offshore structure applications. Different lightweight materials (aluminum foam, agglomerated cork, and polyurethane foam) were investigated using experimental tests and numerical simulations. Closed-cell aluminum foam showed the best performance in terms of the energy absorption capacity during an impact. As such, a Metallic Foam Shell (MFS) device was proposed for the fender of offshore wind …

A Brief Review Of The Impact Of Silver Nanoparticles On Agriculture And Certain Biological Properties: A Case Study, Sushmashree Krishnappa, Shankramma Kalikeri, Raj Kumar H. Garampalli, Lingaraju H G, Charan Kumar Kachintaya

International Journal of Health and Allied Sciences

Nanotechnology is progressively becoming a popular field of research because it has been successful in changing our agricultural and food systems. According to research published by the UNFAO, agriculture as well as its derivatives would be in high demand sooner or later, owing to nutritional changes. Nanoparticles have been reported to be used in an agricultural sector, because of its capacity to encourage crop growth and yield. Among metal nanoparticles, Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) are attracting a lot of attention. We have highlighted some of the agricultural uses of AgNPs, which include pest management, plant disease detection, crop enhancement, and crop …

Spatially Guided Construction Of Multilayered Epidermal Models Recapturing Structural Hierarchy And Cell–Cell Junctions, Haiwei Zhai, Xiaowei Jin, Grayson Minnick, Jordan Rosenbohm, Mohammed Abdul Haleem Hafiz, Ruiguo Yang, Fanben Meng

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

A current challenge in 3D bioprinting of skin equivalents is to recreate the distinct basal and suprabasal layers and promote their direct interactions. Such a structural arrangement is essential to establish 3D stratified epidermis disease models, such as for the autoimmune skin disease pemphigus vulgaris (PV), which targets the cell– cell junctions at the interface of the basal and suprabasal layers. Inspired by epithelial regeneration in wound healing, a method that combines 3D bioprinting and spatially guided self-reorganization of keratinocytes is developed to recapture the fine structural hierarchy that lies in the deep layers of the epidermis.Herein, keratinocyteladen fibrin hydrogels …

Influence Of Nano-Sized Sic On The Laser Powder Bed Fusion Of Molybdenum, Nathan E. Ellsworth, Ryan A. Kemnitz, Cayla C. Eckley, Brianna M. Sexton, Cynthia T. Bowers, Joshua R. Machacek, Larry W. Burggraf

Faculty Publications

Consolidation of pure molybdenum through laser powder bed fusion and other additive manufacturing techniques is complicated by a high melting temperature, thermal conductivity and ductile-to-brittle transition temperature. Nano-sized SiC particles (0.1 wt%) were homogeneously mixed with molybdenum powder and the printing characteristics, chemical composition, microstructure, mechanical properties were compared to pure molybdenum for scan speeds of 100, 200, 400, and 800 mm/s. The addition of SiC improved the optically determined density and flexural strength at 400 mm/s by 92% and 80%, respectively. The oxygen content was reduced by an average of 52% over the four scan speeds analyzed. Two mechanisms …

Modeling Of Two-Dimensional And Biological Materials Towards Diverse Nano-Systems Applications, Jatin Kashyap

Dissertations

This dissertation studies the demonstration of materials ranging from two-dimensional (2D) materials to small bio-molecules using various atomistic/molecular and sub-atomic particles (electron, hole, excitons) modeling techniques for multi-domain applications. Three categories of materials/systems are investigated as follows: 2D materials, biological materials, and complexes of 2D and biological materials.

The first problem demonstrates wrinkles' ubiquitous presence in two-dimensional materials significantly alters their properties. It is observed that water molecules, sourced from ambient humidity or transfer method, can get diffused in between Graphene and the substrate during the Graphene growth. The water diffusion causes/assists wrinkle formation in Graphene, which influences its properties. …

Biofilms: Formation, Research Models, Potential Targets, And Methods For Prevention And Treatment, Yajuan Su, Jaime T. Yrastorza, Mitchell Matis, Jenna Cusick, Siwei Zhao, Guangshun Wang, Jingwei Xie

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Due to the continuous rise in biofilm-related infections, biofilms seriously threaten human health. The formation of biofilms makes conventional antibiotics ineffective and dampens immune clearance. Therefore, it is important to understand the mechanisms of biofilm formation and develop novel strategies to treat biofilms more effectively. This review article begins with an introduction to biofilm formation in various clinical scenarios and their corresponding therapy. Established biofilm models used in research are then summarized. The potential targets which may assist in the development of new strategies for combating biofilms are further discussed. The novel technologies developed recently for the prevention and treatment …

Comparative Study Of Tapered Versus Conventional Cylindrical Balloon For Stent Implantation In Stenotic Tapered Artery, Xiang Shen, Jiabao Jiang, Hongfei Zhu, Kaikai Lu, Pengfei Dong, Linxia Gu

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

The natural tapering of coronary arteries often creates a dilemma for optimal balloon sizing during stenting. The influence of different balloon types, namely, a tapered balloon and a conventional cylindrical balloon, on the mechanical performance of the stent as well as arterial mechanics was investigated via the finite element method. Stent free-expansion and stent deployment in a stenotic tapered artery were investigated numerically. The biomechanical behavior of the two balloon types was compared in terms of stent foreshortening, stent deformation, stent stress distribution, and arterial wall stress distribution. Results indicate that balloon types affect the transient behavior of the stent …

Three-Dimensional Printed Abdominal Imaging Windows For In Vivo Imaging Of Deep-Lying Tissues, Mitchell Kuss, Ayrianne J. Crawford, Olawale A. Alimi, Michael A. Hollingsworth, Bin Duan

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

The ability to microscopically image diseased or damaged tissue throughout a longitudinal study in living mice would provide more insight into disease progression than having just a couple of time points to study. In vivo disease development and monitoring provides more insight than in vitro studies as well. In this study, we developed permanent 3D-printed, surgically implantable abdominal imaging windows (AIWs) to allow for longitudinal imaging of deep-lying tissues or organs in the abdominal cavity of living mice. They are designed to prevent organ movement while allowing the animal to behave normally throughout longitudinal studies. The AIW also acts as …

Synthesis And Consolidation Of Metal Oxide Nanocrystals Via Nonthermal Plasma, Austin Cendejas

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Nonthermal plasmas offer a unique nonequilibrium environment that has been leveraged in a wide variety of applications in the fields of material processing, lighting, and waste management to name a few. In all of these cases, the plasma serves as a source of high energy electrons, ions, reactive gas species, and radicals that interact in several ways with surfaces brought into contact with the plasma. Specifically, nonthermal plasmas have been shown to be very successful in achieving continuous, high-throughput, monodisperse nanocrystals of a wide variety of materials. The crystallinity of nanoparticles synthesized in nonthermal plasmas can be attributed to the …

Nano-Bio Interactions: Implications And Applications, Anushree Ghosh

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Rapid expansion of technology development at the nanoscale has underpinned a promising industry. Towards this, there remain significant information gaps which are critical with regard to decision making processes and ultimate industrial sustainability. From an implication point of view, understanding how common biological macromolecules, including glycolipids and/or biopolymers produced by bacteria and fungi, which are ubiquitous in the environment, is fundamental to predicting the behavior of released/produced nanoparticles. Conversely, other bio-based tailored macromolecules, including mussel foot protein (MFP), have significant potential as functional material coatings for advanced applications.This PhD thesis is focused on interfacial processes related to superparamagnetic iron oxide …

Testing Oxygenated Microbubbles Via Intraperitoneal And Intrathoracic Routes On A Large Pig Model Of Lps-Induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Riaz Ur Rehman Mohammed, Nathaniel T. Zollinger, Andrea R. Mccain, Roser Romaguera-Matas, Seth P. Harris, Keely L. Buesing, Mark A. Borden, Benjamin S. Terry

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

With a mortality rate of 46% before the onset of COVID-19, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) affected 200,000 people in the US, causing 75,000 deaths. Mortality rates in COVID-19 ARDS patients are currently at 39%. Extrapulmonary support for ARDS aims to supplement mechanical ventilation by providing life-sustaining oxygen to the patient. A new rapid-onset, human-sized pig ARDS model in a porcine intensive care unit (ICU) was developed. The pigs were nebulized intratracheally with a high dose (4 mg/kg) of the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) over a 2 h duration to induce rapid-onset moderate-to- severe ARDS. They were then catheterized to monitor …

Vibrating Flexoelectric Micro-Beams As Angular Rate Sensors, Yilin Qu, Feng Jin, Jiashi S. Yang

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

We studied flexoelectrically excited/detected bending vibrations in perpendicular directions of a micro-beam spinning about its axis. A set of one-dimensional equations was derived and used in a theoretical analysis. It is shown that the Coriolis effect associated with the spin produces an electrical output proportional to the angular rate of the spin when it is small. Thus, the beam can be used as a gyroscope for angular rate sensing. Compared to conventional piezoelectric beam gyroscopes, the flexoelectric beam proposed and analyzed has a simpler structure.