Topical Thrusts

Thrust I. Emergent Particulate Hierarchies

Materials such as paints, inks, filled polymers, and reinforced elastomers involve immiscible, generally aggregated, polydisperse particles which are often on the nanoscale which assemble through processing, application, and time into useful structures often reflecting a network such as a filler network or pigment network on the micron to macro-scale.

This thrust also involves engineered and controlled nanostructural particulates targeting specific design targets such as the work of Nick Kotov.

Thrust II. Materials Data Science

This thrust involves develoment of tools to utlize large data sets towards targeted goals involving formulation chemistry targeting hierarchical emergence. This Thrust will be in collaboraton with the University of Cincinnati Center for Business Analytics. Prof. Mike Fry discusses Data Analytics for the Center.

Thrust III. Surface Engineering, Coatings, and Adhesives

This thrust focuses on the manipulation of surfaces in terms of interaction with the environment such as hydrophilicity, oleophilicity, biocompatibility. Coatings and adhesives are topics of interest.

Thrust IV. Synthetic Skin, Biomedical Testing Applications

Emergence of hierarchy for biomimetic materials.

Thrust V. Surfactants and Coacervates

Emergent hierarchical structures in surfactant systems.

Center PIs

Greg Beaucage, University of Cincinnati

Beaucage is an expert in small-angle scattering of disordered materials and has recently worked in the quantification of dispersion and emergence in multi-hierarchical systems such as reinforced elastomers, worm-like micelles, pigments, and inks.

Dave Martin, University of Delaware

Molecular design, synthesis, processing, microstructure, and properties of ionically and optoelectronically active polymers and organic materials; biocompatible conjugated polymers for electronic biomedical devices, high resolution transmission and low voltage in-situ electron microscopy studies of defects in ordered polymers and organic molecular crystals; and the microstructure and properties of polymers and biopolymers near surfaces.

Anish Tuteja, University of Michigan

Superhydrophobic and Superoleophobic Surfaces Ice-Repellent surfaces; Biofouling resistant surfaces; Micro- and nanoparticle fabrication for drug delivery; Membrane separations and liquid-liquid extractions; Polymer Nanocomposites

Jinsang Kim, University of Michigan

General research interests are molecular design, synthesis, modification and self-assembly of smart polymers for biomedical and optoelectronic applications, including biomaterials, molecular biosensors, smart gels, optoelectronic polymers, conjugated polymers, block copolymers, organic-inorganic hybrid materials, photovoltaic cells and self-assembly.

Nick Kotov, University of Michigan

Biomimetic nanostructures, self-organization of nanocolloids, ultrastrong nanocomposites, energy materials, chiral nanostructures, implantable biomedical devices.

Ron Larson, University of Michigan

Ron Larson is an expert in rheology and simulation of complex fluids. He is a recipient of the Ford Prize for the American Physical Society and has consulted with ExxonMobil, Dow, Procter&Gamble.

Arthi Jayaraman, University of Delaware

Prof. Jayaraman's research expertise lies in development of theory and simulation techniques and application of these techniques to study polymer functionalized nanoparticles and polymer nanocomposites, and to design macromolecular materials for biomedical applications.

Yoonjee Park, University of Cincinnati

Yoonjee Park is an expert in colloids and biomaterials. She has worked extensively in drug delivery and is currently interested in developing synthetic skin for cosmetic testing.

Jon Nickels, University of Cincinnati

Jon Nickels is interested in elastic and inelastic scattering and MD simulations. He ahs worked in biomaterials, nanoparticles and polymers.

Darrin Pochan, University of Delaware

Dr. Pochan`s group is exploring vesicle, micelle and hydrogel formation in dilute aqueous systems of block polypeptides. This work is coupled with solid-state block polypeptide characterization and block polypeptide-protein blend morphology studies to establish the self-assembly rules for these novel synthetic materials. In addition, Dr. Pochan is studying the self-assembly of unique polymeric and organic-inorganic hybrid materials in bulk and for pattern formations in thin films. Other research interests focus on novel bulk structure and pattern formation via competing phase transitions in hybrid dentritic/linear polymer materials. Experimental techniques frequently used include small and wide angle x-ray and neutron scattering, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy.

Neil Ayres, University of Cincinnati

All our research is built on the foundation of using synthetic polymer chemistry to solve problems and create new materials. We are currently focused on making glycopolymer mimics for blood-compatible polymers, making shape memory polymer foams, and making biocompatible polymer gels and networks.