Nano-composites

Composites of polymer and nanoparticles have many property improvements compared to pure polymer.  These include improvements in mechanical strength, thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, optical properties, and photoelectric properties.  However, the mixing of polymer with nanoparticles often poses a problem.  To over come this issue and others, there have been recent efforts toward the synthesis of polymer-grafted nanoparticles.  These new types of species show interesting phase behavior - often forming new types of self-assembled phases with new interesting properties (https://p

Preventing or inhibiting the growth of micro-organisms on surfaces is of prime importance in the healthcare and textile industries. A promising strategy to overcome microbial growth involves coating the surfaces with materials that can provide resistance to microbial colonization. Inorganic nano materials and organic materials with inorganic inclusions are being widely used as anti-microbial coatings.

Some initial work in our group, and from other groups suggests that polymer-grafted nanoparticles can for networks and equilibrium gels under the right conditions.  This is remarkable, since while gels are useful most gels represent non-equilibrium states that age, and disintegrate with time.  The idea of forming equilibrium gels which are non-perishable, is therefore attractive.  In this study we determine the conditions for the formation of equilibrium gels by grafted nanoparticles.

A basic understanding of coding is required.

Polymer membranes are popular in separation and fuel cell applications.  Moreover, nanoparticle-filled polymer membranes can simultaneously improve properties such as permeability and selectivity.  The challenge lies in stabilizing these membranes against phase separation.  Recent progress in grafting polymer onto the surface of nanoparticles may mitigate some of these challenges.  This project uses statistical mechanics to study the efficacy of grafted nanoparticles as effective membrane materials.

Basic programming ability is needed. 

A surprising new development in materials science and chemical engineering is the finding that mixtures of hard (colloidal), and soft (polymeric, or micellar) particles can self organize on length scales much larger than the diameter of either species.  In this project we explore the behavior of connected hard- and soft particles.  An elementary knowledge of coding is sufficient.

Traditionally, self-assembled structures are formed using chemical differences within a species.  Examples of this are the formation of micelles by detergents, and the formation of the phospholipid bilayer of the cell membrane.  In these systems it is the tendency to the hydrophobic and hydrophilic part to avoid each other that result in the self-assembled state.  However, a recent study (http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2017/sm/c7sm00230k) has pointed out that it is possible to form self-assembled states

Traditionally, self-assembled structures are formed using chemical differences within a species.  Examples of this are the formation of micelles by detergents, and the formation of the phospholipid bilayer of the cell membrane.  In these systems, it is the tendency to the hydrophobic and hydrophilic part to avoid each other that result in the  self-assembled state.  However, a recent study (http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2017/sm/c7sm00230k) has pointed out that it is possible to form self-assembled state

Continuous monitoring of water quality parameters, like total dissolved solids, heavy metals, inorganic ions, organic pollutants etc.is an important measurement, to ascertain quality and use of a water body. This is critical for both a flowing water-stream (river, canal) or a stagnant water-pool, like a lake.