Complex materials and chemical interfaces serve as the basis for nearly all modern technologies. Our faculty and research groups study how the synthesis, processing and properties of these systems can be used to engineer products and devices with well-controlled or novel performance for a variety of applications. A fundamental goal is usually to understand the interplay between molecular chemistry and multi-scale structure to design materials and interfaces, and the processes used to prepare them.
Research Themes:
Polymers
The molecular behavior and structural origins of polymers, methods to develop synthetic polymers, and the behavior of polymeric liquids.
Nanostructured Materials
Nanostructured functional materials, nanomaterial processing, directed and templated self-assembly.
Complex Fluids and Colloids
The flow and colloidal behavior of fluid dispersions, particulates and gels for pharmaceutical, food, coatings, and consumer product applications.
Transport Phenomena
Microfluidics, the migration of suspended colloids, drops, and polymers, colloidal stability and assembly, and field-directed transport.
Complex Interfaces: Forces, Dynamics and Rheology
Examining the structure, mechanics and chemistry of complex interfaces, fluid-fluid interfaces, monolayers, and nanostructured surfaces.
Novel Characterization Tools
Development of equipment and methods for specialized, high-resolution characterization of materials and interfaces, including Surface Forces, NMR, STM, AFM, and scattering techniques.
