We are a synthetic materials chemistry group, developing new materials for environmental and energy applications. The projects are interdisciplinary and utilize a variety of solid and solution based characterization techniques.
Current Projects
Cationic Materials for Pollutant Trapping
We discover new inorganic and metal-organic materials that bear cationic charge. The open space inside these covalently extended hosts contain anions that can be exchanged for environmentally hazardous anions, both inorganic and organic. The exchange must occur in water and be selective, high capacity and reversible for reusing the material. The goal is to replace current methods of treating wastewater and underground plumes contaminated by toxic species such as chromium-6, perchlorate and radioactive elements. A current focus is on templating and trapping perfluorinated anions such as PFOS and PFOA, the so-called "forever" chemicals.
We discover new inorganic and metal-organic materials that bear cationic charge. The open space inside these covalently extended hosts contain anions that can be exchanged for environmentally hazardous anions, both inorganic and organic. The exchange must occur in water and be selective, high capacity and reversible for reusing the material. The goal is to replace current methods of treating wastewater and underground plumes contaminated by toxic species such as chromium-6, perchlorate and radioactive elements. A current focus is on templating and trapping perfluorinated anions such as PFOS and PFOA, the so-called "forever" chemicals.
This project is supported by the National Science Foundation, Partnerships for Innovation, Technology Translation Program (Grant Number 2044692) as well the Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET), Environmental Engineering, Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) Program (Grant Number 1603754).
The X-ray facility (xrd.ucsc.edu) was funded by the NSF Major Research Instrumentation Program, Grant Numbers 2018501, 1126845 and 0521569.
The X-ray facility (xrd.ucsc.edu) was funded by the NSF Major Research Instrumentation Program, Grant Numbers 2018501, 1126845 and 0521569.
Hydrogen Project
Bottom text and movie coming soon.
Bottom text and movie coming soon.
Biodiesel Project
Bottom text and images coming soon.
Bottom text and images coming soon.
Past Projects
Mesoporous Materials for Desulfurization of Jet Fuel
We are studying the removal of sulfur compounds from jet fuel. We have recently reported mesoporous nanoparticles made of silica that show record uptake of sulfur for the fuel known as JP-8. We load the pores of the host with silver, which has a high propensity for sulfur. We are about to submit a paper on a related material that shows excellent uptake but also reversibility so it can be used indefinitely.
We are studying the removal of sulfur compounds from jet fuel. We have recently reported mesoporous nanoparticles made of silica that show record uptake of sulfur for the fuel known as JP-8. We load the pores of the host with silver, which has a high propensity for sulfur. We are about to submit a paper on a related material that shows excellent uptake but also reversibility so it can be used indefinitely.
Biomaterials: Mesoporous Materials for the Eradication of Drug-Resistant Bacteria
This project is in collaboration with the Mascharak group. It also employs mesoporous silica nanoparticles, as depicted in the figure to the left. The pores are loaded with photoactive inorganic complexes developed by the Mascharak group, who then study the release of NO and CO for the eradication of bacterial strains that are drug resistant.
This project is in collaboration with the Mascharak group. It also employs mesoporous silica nanoparticles, as depicted in the figure to the left. The pores are loaded with photoactive inorganic complexes developed by the Mascharak group, who then study the release of NO and CO for the eradication of bacterial strains that are drug resistant.
Swollen Polymers and Elastomers as an Inorganic Growth Medium
Porous polymer gels such as polyacrylamide used in electrophoresis are used as a sacrificial template for making macroporous inorganic materials, with controlled porosity and composition. These macroporous materials are potentially useful for many applications such as as separation media or battery electrodes.
Porous polymer gels such as polyacrylamide used in electrophoresis are used as a sacrificial template for making macroporous inorganic materials, with controlled porosity and composition. These macroporous materials are potentially useful for many applications such as as separation media or battery electrodes.
PDMS Membranes for Li Air Batteries
This project is in collaboration with Yardney, Inc. We create a polymer coating for their air batteries, where the elastomer known as polydimethylsiloxane is oxygen permeable but protects the interior battery from atmospheric moisture.
This project is in collaboration with Yardney, Inc. We create a polymer coating for their air batteries, where the elastomer known as polydimethylsiloxane is oxygen permeable but protects the interior battery from atmospheric moisture.
Self-Assembled Monolayers (SAMs) for Molecular Electronic Devices
We deposit Au or Ag on a PDMS stamp with surface relief. Contact to the top of a alkanedithiol SAM transfered the Ag to the thiol terminated surface, leading to a metal-insulator-metal junction. The PDMS is flexible about the contact, leading to micro/nanofabrication possibilities. The junctions were also investigated for their capacitance and sensing properties.
SAM-Ceramic Composite Bilayer Protective Coatings
This project was in collaboration with Professor Junghyun Cho at SUNY Binghamton. We have several patents on this approach, where a self-assembled monolayer is used as a buffer layer between the semiconductor substrate and the ceramic coating to increase the resistance of the underlying device to thermal cracking.
This project was in collaboration with Professor Junghyun Cho at SUNY Binghamton. We have several patents on this approach, where a self-assembled monolayer is used as a buffer layer between the semiconductor substrate and the ceramic coating to increase the resistance of the underlying device to thermal cracking.
