Materials

New catalysts for biomass conversion, new sorbents for CO2 capture or H2 storage, self assembly of nanoscale building blocks to make new materials, new biomaterials for medical devices, new electrode materials for batteries and new membranes are among the topics being explored in the Chemical Engineering Department. We develop and employ both computational and experimental approaches.

Brendon Baker

The Baker lab studies how structure and mechanics of the cellular microenvironment guide fundamental cell processes such as migration, proliferation, and extracellular matrix synthesis. To do so, we use microfabrication technologies to create synthetic biomaterials that mimic the 3D, fibrous nature of stromal or interstitial tissues. Combined with molecular tools, live imaging, microfabrication/fluidic techniques, and multi-scale mechanical characterization, these materials allow us to model, study, and control the interactions between cells and their surroundings. Ultimately, we aim to 1) shed insight into extracellular matrix-mediated diseases such as cancer and fibrosis and 2) use material cues to direct cell function for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.

Baker Lab

Sharon Glotzer

Professor Sharon Glotzer and her research group use computer simulation to discover the fundamental principles of how nanoscale building blocks can self-assemble and how to guide that process to engineer new materials. Her team develops the theory and molecular simulation tools to understand self-assembling, self-sensing and self-regulating materials.

Glotzer Group

Bryan Goldsmith

Professor Goldsmith’s group uses molecular simulation and data analytics tools to understand various materials for a variety of sustainable applications, especially chemical production and energy generation. Recent topics of focus include: amorphous materials and complex metal oxides for use as catalyst components; crystal structure and property prediction of oxide materials using data analytics tools (e.g., compressed sensing and data mining); and entropy stabilized materials.

Goldsmith Group

Xiwen Gong

The Gong research group focuses on the innovative design of hybrid semiconducting materials with superior and unprecedented properties.Our goal is to widen the property space of soft semiconductors for next generation bioelectronics.

Gong Group

Jovan Kamcev

Professor Kamcev and his research group develop new polymeric materials (membranes, adsorbents, mixed-matrix membranes) for water treatment and energy storage/generation applications.

Kamcev group

Jinsang Kim

Professor Jinsang Kim and his research group develop methods for the self-organization of polymers and nano-semiconductors for electronic and optical applications. His team is also investigating light-emitting organic crystals and sensors that can identify biological markers and is developing bio-inspired conductive adhesives.

Kim Group

Nicholas Kotov

Professor Nicholas Kotov and his research group study the self-organization of nanoparticles into more complex structures, layer-by-layer assembly and 3D scaffolds. Nanomaterials and those assembled in thin layers are promising for electronic and medical devices, while 3D scaffolds create microenvironments for cell cultures that resemble their natural conditions.

Kotov Lab

Mark Kushner

Current projects of Professor Mark Kushner and his team include plasma fabrication of advanced materials for nano-electronics, plasmas in liquids and plasma treatment of porous polymeric membranes.

Computational Plasma Science and Engineering Group

Joerg Lahann

Professor Joerg Lahann’s research interest is focused on the development of active, multi-functional bio-interfaces, which are applicable to a range of biomedical applications. His group’s recent advances in the molecular design of active nanostructures include the introduction of reactive coatings, reversibly switching surfaces, and anisotropic nanoparticles that support the vision of smart interfaces and act as templates in time-controlled surface interactions.

Lahann Lab

Andrej Lenert

Professor Andrej Lenert and his team study and develop nanoporous composites with tailored transport properties and control over the spectral content of energy flow.

Lenert Lab

Albert Liu

Arming nano-electronics with mobility extends artificial systems into traditionally inaccessible environments. Quantum-confined nanoparticles (0D), carbon nanotubes (1D), graphene (2D) and other crystalline materials with well-defined lattice structures can be incorporated into polymer microparticles (i.e., colloidal electronics), granting them unique electronic functions. The Liu laboratory seeks to advance device capabilities for individual colloidal electronic particles, and explores higher-order assemblies of these building-blocks into hierarchical colloidal electronic matter. This research program, positioned at the intersection between materials design, chemical catalysis, and electronic device fabrication, aims to address one central challenge: Can we build materials the way nature builds us?

Deepak Nagrath

Nagrath Lab (Systems Biology of Human Diseases)

Johannes Schwank

Professor Johannes Schwank and his research group are involved in developing the next generation of energy storage materials for batteries as part of a DoE funded Energy Innovation Hub.

Schwank Group

Timothy Scott

The research of Professor Timothy Scott and his group focuses on exploiting the attributes of radicals for unique polymer fabrication and manipulation strategies to yield materials for biomedical devices, membrane separators and energy capture and storage media. Furthermore, Scott’s team develops strategies to achieve photochemical super-resolution and to generate and characterize sequence-specific oligomer and polymer combinatorial arrays.

Scott Polymer Dojo

Lonnie Shea

Professor Lonnie Shea’s laboratory is developing and using biomaterials as scaffolds for tissue growth with applications in regenerative medicine, cancer diagnostics, and immune-engineering.

Shea Group

Ashwin Shahani

Professor Shahani and his team specialize in the application of nondestructive and in situ characterization techniques in an effort to understand the emergence of nanoscale patterns in nature.  His group has developed novel approaches for integrated imaging across the relevant length- and time-scales.

Shahani Group

Max Shtein

The research group led by Professor Max Shtein is interested in organic and hybrid organic/inorganic materials and devices, with applications in solid-state energy conversion and sensing. Current projects include plasmon-enhanced hybrid organic/inorganic solar cells, nanoscale light sources and photodetectors for high resolution microscopy, organic solar cells and LEDs on fibers, woven thermoelectric devices, and organic vapor jet printing.

Shtein Group

Michael Solomon

The research of Professor Michael Solomon and his group investigate complex fluids—soft materials with properties intermediate between fluids and solids. Solomon’s current interests include nanocolloidal assembly, colloidal gelation and the biomechanics of bacterial biofilms. Applications of interest include creating new optical materials, sensors, biomedical devices and procedures, as well as materials for energy management.

Solomon Group

Anish Tuteja

Professor Anish Tuteja and his group use polymers to address key challenges in the areas of renewable energy and environmental science. The team develops super oil-repellent surfaces, super water-repellent surfaces, ice-repellent surfaces, membranes, and polymer nanocomposites. Applications include the separation of oil and water and energy-conversion materials for solar cells.

The Polymers, Surfaces and Interfaces (ψ) Group

Angela Violi

Violi Research Group

Ralph Yang

Professor Ralph Yang and his research group synthesize new nanostructured materials for difficult separations by exploiting weak and reversible chemical bonds, such as pi-complexation. The group studies new sorbents for removing sulfur from fuels and for CO2 capture as well as materials for hydrogen storage.