Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials » Highlights

Self-Assembly of Biofunctional Polymer on Graphene Nanoribbons

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:56:44 +0000

Clark Atlanta University researchers supported by the NSF PREM project worked on supramolecular self-assembly of biofunctional-modified poly(2 methoxystyrene) on graphene nanoribbons. The bioactive polymer has attracted a considerable interest owing to its versatile properties as a bisosensor. However, the formation of regular patterned structures for the polymer is difficult, which greatly hampers its applications. The combined experimental and theoretical work demonstrates that the glycol modified polymer can self-assemble into structured nanopatterns on graphene nanoribbons with preserved bioactivity. The findings demonstrate that the assembly yields a prospective route to novel nanomaterial systems.

The research result was accepted for published in ACS Nano 6, 1011 (2012).

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Tunable bands in biased multilayer epitaxial graphene

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:54:05 +0000

Clark Atlanta University and Georgia Tech. researchers supported by the NSF PREM project studied the electronic characteristics of multilayer epitaxial graphene under a perpendicularly applied electric bias.

The experimental and theoretical results demonstrate that the tailoring of electronic band structure correlates with the interlayer coupling tuned by the applied bias. The controllable electronic structure of rotationally fault-stacked epitaxial graphene grown on the C-face of SiC provides promising routes for future device applications.

The research result was accepted for published in Nanoscale 4, 2962 (2012).

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Scientific Literacy Pre-Freshman Bridge Summer Science Program

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:25:07 +0000

Students in Bridge Program along with Dr. Ann Watts, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs.

A Pre-Freshman Bridge Summer Science Program at Morehouse College was designed to develop an advanced level of scientific literacy among pre-freshmen science majors with the goal of increasing the number of graduates who enter graduate school in pursuit of research careers.
This innovative summer program incorporated a unique combination of proven components that increases success, builds academic skills, exposes students to the scientific method and research methodology, as well as promotes an enhanced interest in the pursuit of careers in science and research. In this six-week summer experience students participate in scientific literacy building, applied mathematics, guided inquiry laboratories in materials science, scientific field trips, as well as personal and professional development.

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JSU-UCSB PREM’s Nano Day Activity in Memphis Zoo

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:13:30 +0000

JSU-PREM Participants presented Nanoscience exhibition at the Memphis Zoo, Memphis, TN. Over 300 Participants gathered at the Zoo for Nano Day

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A Label-Free Direct Cyanide Detection using Gold Nanotechnology

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:06:31 +0000

We have developed SERS based sensor for extremely toxic cyanide ion recognition quickly, selectively and accurately without any tagging, at 110 ppt level.

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Gold Nanotechnology can Identify Salmonella DT104 from Lettuce

admin — Sat, 12 May 2012 00:02:16 +0000

Bio-conjugated Popcorn shape gold nanoparticle can pick multiple drug resistantSalmonella DT104 bacteria from food sample. A simple colorimetric test can detect Salmonella DT104 in 10 colony-forming unit (CFU)/mL level with high selectivity over other pathogens.

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Development of self-assembled block copolymers

Karen Lozano — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:44:43 +0000

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.

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Hydrophobic Nanoporous Materials for Energy Absorption

Karen Lozano — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 15:40:43 +0000

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.

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Fabrication of “artificial” photonic quasi-crystals

Karen Lozano — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 22:54:46 +0000

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)

Laser direct writing was also used for the fabrication of 3D photonic crystals (see Fig. 2, top). By combining of the holographic lithography and two-photon direct laser writing, Defect letters of “UTPA” have been written in 3D photonic crystals.

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Fig. 1. (left) 3D quasi photonic crystals fabricated through multi-beam interference based holographic lithography; (right) A Laue diffraction pattern from the quasi-crystal..

Fig. 2. 3D Photonic crystals fabricated by laser direct writing. Defect letters UTPA have been written in 3D photonic crystals.

Development of Continuous and Homogenous Teflon Nanofibers for Superhydrophobic Surfaces

Karen Lozano — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 18:55:57 +0000

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. Teflon is an ideal candidate to be used as a superhydrophobic material though because of its low dielectric constant and high melt temperature it has not been possible to produce fine fibers with this material. We were able to produce high yield 100% pure teflon fine fibers that can be collected as nonwoven mats or aligned fibers in a yarn.

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Nonwoven teflon nanofiber mat

Colored water droplets on a glass slide covered with a thin teflon AF nanofiber mat, the measured contact angle was as high as 172.4 º.

Nanofibers made into a yarn to be weaved for textile applications.