Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials

Self-assembled block copolymers (see the upper inset) can accommodate nanofillers in given polymeric domains resulting in an ordered spatial distribution of nanoparticles, induced by the self assembly of block copolymers and the preferential trapping on the nanofiller (see the left figure).

Ultra-thin films of block copolymers filled with various nanoparticles can be obtained from solution by spin-coating.

Advanced energy absorption systems have recently been developed, in which external work is converted into stored energy by infiltrating nanoporous materials with liquid phases.

Three-dimensionally ordered mesoporous (3DOm) carbon is studied as a new nanoporous material matrix for energy storage. 3DOm materials in general have the property of highly interconnected pores and large surface areas.

3DOm carbon is synthesized by replication of 10-40 nm silica nanoparticle arrays. Phenol-formaldehyde (PF) and resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) were used as the carbon sources to replicate silica spheres.

We work on an fabrication method for “artificial” photonic quasi-crystal. The fabricated Penrose-type photonic quasicrystal shows ten-fold rotational symmetry. The Laue diffraction pattern from the photonic quasi-crystal is observed to be similar to that of the traditional alloy quasi-crystal. A golden ratio of 1.618 is also observed for the radii of diffraction rings, which has not been observed before in artificial photonic quasicrystals. (see Fig. 1)

Superhydrophobicity is a very important property of a solid surface and can be used in many applications such as self cleaning windows, icephobic surfaces (to avoid ice deposition on airplanes), self cleaning textiles and paints to mention some.

Nanometer-sized RuO2 materials with controlled shapes and dimensions have been synthesized by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition system. Transition metal oxides such as ruthenium oxide can be used as electrodes for lithium-ion batteries.

The major drawback of solar cell technology is the low efficiency. Introducing PhCBR would allow for higher efficiencies that improve over current metal back reflectors. The better the reflective properties for the designed back reflectors allow for light to be trapped within the solar cell longer, thus allowing for a higher percentage of photons to be absorbed to produce electrical power.

The objective of this study is to synthesize cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanocubes and study their rheological behavior in suspensions of oligomers. This system is of interest because suspensions of cubes are expected to exhibit enhancements over traditional spherical particles for applications such as liquid body armor.  These enhancements are realized because of the ability of [...]

On April 9th, 2011, a state-wide assortment of 22 middle school teachers and administrators participated in three distinct presentations as part of the Spring NanoBio Science Academy for teachers (NBSAT). NBSAT focused on the professional development of teachers with an emphasis of nano and biotechnology. In addition, the academy provided strategies proven effective with at-risk [...]

Science and Technology Open House was held on October 24, 2010 at Tuskegee University’s Kellogg Conference Center.  The theme of the Science and Technology Open House was “Exciting and Motivating K-12 Students into STEM (Science, Technology, & Engineering, Mathematics)”. Open House was an excellent opportunity for students and teachers to meet with researchers from various [...]

Tuskegee University Center for Advanced Materials (T-CAM) hosted high school students during the summer of 2010 in an effort to expose the students to research and concepts pertaining to science, engineering, and technology. Research Experience for High School Students (REH) program occurred over an eight-week time frame during June-July 2010. Students will participated in a [...]

Objective of this study is to study the influence of functionalization  of MWCNTs on the performance  of nanocomposites. Approach: In this work, thermoset  polymers were modified with pristine and amine functionalized MWCNTs. Thermomechanical thermal, rheological, and mechanical characterization was carried out. Findings: Flexural results indicated homogeneity with improvements in mechanical properties of up to 15% [...]

Objective of this work was to test the thermal and mechanical properties of POSS coated SiC particles infused in epoxy polymers to produce nanocomposite. A non-contact and sonochemical method was developed to coat POSS on SiC nanoparticles and uniformly disperse in a polymer. These epoxy based polymers were further cured to prepared polymer nanocomposites. Nanocomposites [...]

On April 29, 2011 Wi(PR)2EM and the Science on Wheels Educational Center (SONW) organized and coordinated the First Arts, Sciences and Engineering Festival of UPRM (FACI-RUM, was its acronym in Spanish) at the Rafael A. Mangual coliseum at UPRM. This large event combined our NanoDays activities with the 20th anniversary of SONW as well as [...]

Beta-peptides have been designed to mimic natural host-defense peptides. Unfortunately, very little is known about the molecular mechanism of action of these materials.  During the past year Dr. Ortiz-Bermúdez and her research group have been conducting experiments in collaboration with Dr. Sean Palecek, from the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the UW-Madison, to [...]

Carbon-rich compounds and materials have garnered much attention recently due to their small band gaps and thus applications as organic conductors and ferromagnets that form monolayers in solid-phase state. One such type of materials that can form carbon monolayers are [N]phenylenes, hydrocarbons built of fused alternating aromatic benzene and anti-aromatic cyclobutadiene rings. Vollhardt’s group has [...]

Planar electron-accepting π-systems are useful building blocks for both nonlinear optical and organic electronic applications. We have recently developed a convenient synthesis of dibromo bithiophenes and bithiazoles of type I (see below) that relies upon the base-catalyzed “Halogen dance”, in which the lithiation initially takes place adjacent to the bromine atom, before changing places with [...]

A series of presentations on light-matter interactions have been given at the West Las Vegas Middle School. These have served to promote connections between local schools and PREM program. Three NMHU PREM students organized four different science presentations, each approximately one hour in length for 80 students total for the science class of Mr. Michael [...]

1 Howard University, Washington, DC 20059 2 Academy of Sciences, Chisinau, Moldova 3 International Laboratory of High Magnetic Fields and Low Temperatures, Wroclaw, Poland. 4 Department of Physics, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 In topological insulators (TI) there is conduction by the surface Rashba states and inside of the material. A group lead by [...]

Scott Sinex, professor of physical sciences and engineering at Prince George’s Community College and co-PI of the PREM involving Prince George’s Community College, Howard University and the Johns Hopkins University was acknowledged by the Krell Institute and the Department of Energy, for developing interactive spreadsheets teaching materials science  and chemistry Sinex’s interactive spreadsheets, called Excelets, [...]