Many challenging problems in the modern science and technology are related to preparation, properties, and utilization of novel functional materials. The polymer chemistry and the chemical microelectronics programs represent parts of the multidisciplinary effort in this field. The many-pronged approach includes: synthesis and molecular characterization of well-defined block and graft copolymers; preparation of new engineering thermoplastics and liquid crystalline materials; synthesis, modification and processing of polymers in super-critical carbon dioxide; chemical design of hybrid polymers for catalysis and photoredox activity, polymers for microelectronics applications including 193 nm and 157 nm photoresists and low-k dielectrics, and defined microstructures.
Chemical microelectronics is focused on preparation of organic and inorganic electronic materials; microscopic patterning of thin films using novel techniques, plasma, ion beam, laser beam, etc.; kinetics of etching and film formation; characterization of mechanical, electronic, and optical properties; spatially resolved chemical analysis of surfaces, interfaces, and thin films and microstructures. A broad variety of expertise includes visualization and probing of submicrometer surface structures by scanning probe microscopy, characterization of polymer dynamics by NMR techniques and light scattering, measurement of molecular conductivity, and analytical as well as computational and numerical methods in polymers.
DeSimone Group
Surfactant Design for Carbon Dioxide-based Applications
Synthesis of Hydrophilic/Fluorocarbon Block Copolymers
Rubinstein Group
Theory and computer simulations of polymeric surfactants
Samulski Group
Chemical modifications of single-walled carbon nanotubes for composites
Characterization and quantification of intermolecular forces in liquid crystals
Sheiko Group
Molecular brushes as components for nanomechanic devices
You Group
Novel materials and device configuration for organic/inorganic hybrid solar cells
Fabricating spin valve through self assembly of organic molecules and nanoparticles
Metal−Molecule−Metal Junctions via PFPE Assisted Nanotransfer Printing (nTP) onto Self-Assembled Monolayers. Jeremy R. Niskala and Wei You. J. Am. Chem. Soc., Publication Date (Web): August 28, 2009.
Fabrication of multiphasic and regio-specifically functionalized PRINT® particles of controlled size and shape. H Zhang, J K Nunes, S E A Gratton, K P Herlihy, P D Pohlhaus, and J M DeSimone. New J. Phys. 11 075018 (16pp); doi: 10.1088/1367-2630/11/7/075018.
Photonic Crystal Geometry for Organic Solar Cells. Doo-Hyun Ko, John R. Tumbleston, Lei Zhang, Stuart Williams, Joseph M. DeSimone, Rene Lopez and Edward T. Samulski. Nano Letters, DOI: 10.1021/nl901232p.
Molecular Tensile Testing Machines: Breaking a Specific Covalent Bond by Adsorption-Induced Tension in Brushlike Macromolecules. Insun Park and Sergei S. Sheiko. Macromolecules, 2009, 42 (6), pp 1805–1807.
Fluoropolymer Synthesis in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide. Libin Du, Jennifer Y. Kelly, George W. Roberts and Joseph M. DeSimone. The Journal of Supercritical Fluids, Volume 47, Issue 3, January 2009, Pages 447-457.
Exfoliated Graphene Separated by Platinum Nanoparticles. Yongchao Si and Edward T. Samulski. Chem. Mater., 2008, 20 (21), pp 6792–6797.
Optically Transparent, Amphiphilic Networks Based on Blends of Perfluoropolyethers and Poly(ethylene glycol). Zhaokang Hu, Liang Chen, Douglas E. Betts, Ashish Pandya, Marc A. Hillmyer and Joseph M. DeSimone. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2008, 130 (43), pp 14244–14252.
Comprehensive Investigation of Self-Assembled Monolayer Formation on Ferromagnetic Thin Film Surfaces. Paul G. Hoertz, Jeremy R. Niskala, Peng Dai, Hayden T. Black, and Wei You. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 130 (30), 9763–9772, 2008.
The effect of particle design on cellular internalization pathways. Stephanie E. A. Gratton, Patricia A. Ropp, Patrick D. Pohlhaus, J. Christopher Luft, Victoria J. Madden, Mary E. Napier, and Joseph M. DeSimone. PNAS 105 (33): 11613-11618 AUG 19 2008.
Synthesis of Water Soluble Graphene. Yongchao Si and Edward T. Samulski. Nano Lett., 2008, 8 (6), pp 1679–1682.