Research: Materials
Materials at the Nanoscale
More than 50 faculty research teams are working in the emerging field of nanomaterials - a wide ranging frontier of study that includes nanoporous materials and structures; nanowires and nanotubes; nanoparticles; polymers; biomaterials; glass and optical materials; and electronic and photonic materials.
Materials research at Penn State increasingly begins with the modeling and simulation of novel materials. Computer simulation streamlines the development of materials by predicting the properties and performance of new materials and devices, providing theoretical frameworks, and isolating the variables in materials experimentation. Most multi- disciplinary groups studying materials at the nanoscale include a modeling and simulation component.
Researchers at Penn State are studying chemically modified nanoporous carbon as a storage material for hydrogen; metallic and semiconductor nanowires joined to single biomolecules as biomolecular electrical sensors; titania nanotube arrays for more efficient solar cells: graphene sheets with many of the remarkable electronic properties of carbon nanotubes but with more surface to functionalize; negatively refracting materials made from blended metallic and magnetic nanoparticles to make "perfect lenses" for optical and electronic devices; and chemical vapor deposition of semiconductor material inside optical fiber in nanometer-size structures that merge optics and electronics in a single system with the promise of revolutionizing telecommunications.
Penn State researchers have done groundbreaking work in chemical nanofabrication, including molecular rulers for nanolithography; self-assembled monolayers for applications in molecular electronics and surface chemistry; catalytic nanomotors from bimetallic nanorods, and metallic atoms for molecule-based electronic devices.
In the Particulate Materials Center at Penn State, the basic groundwork is being laid for the introduction of nanosize particles into industrial processes. Particle science and technology are being transformed for the rigorous requirements of advanced materials, including composites, electronic materials, and pharmaceuticals.
Characterization of nanomaterials is a crucial component in nanoscale science and engineering, and Penn State has a distributed network of user facilities with cutting-edge metrology equipment. The Materials Characterization Lab(MCL) is a full-service analytical laboratory that serves the research community at Penn State by offering a range of state-of-the-art analytical techniques with full-time professional staff. Techniques offered include: microscopy, surface and thin film analysis, trace chemical analysis, structural determination, and various physical property measurements.
Strength in nanotechnology at Penn State builds on a century- long tradition of leadership in materials science and engineering. With the construction of a new state-of-the-art Materials Building, scheduled for completion in 2010, Penn State will augment its strength position in nanomaterials and create new opportunities in the emerging field of nanobiomaterials. To find out more about Penn State materials research click on one of the links below.
The Materials Research Institute is the focus for materials research at Penn State www.mri.psu.edu
The MCL is a distributed materials characterization laboratory with professional staff and state-of-the-art equipment www.mri.psu.edu/mcl
The Keck Smart Materials Integration Lab creates and studies materials that can sense and react to changes in their environment. www.mri.psu.edu/centers/kecksmil
Read about Penn State's Materials Day www.mri.psu.edu/articles/materialsday06/index.asp
Faculty: Materials
- ,
- Research Keywords: Self-Assembly; Thin Films; Nanomaterials; Biomaterials; Sensors and Actuators
- ,
- Research Keywords: Semiconducting Nanowires, Synthesis and Physical Properties, Chemical Sensors; Carbon Nanotubes, Electrical Transport, Graphene, EMI Shielding; Optical Properties, Mie Scattering, Photoluminescence; Raman Scattering; FTIR Vibrational Spectroscopy, Nanomechanics-Young's Modulus
- Adair, James H.
- Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
- (814) 863-6047 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.matse.psu.edu/fac/profiles/adair.htm
- Allara, David L.
- Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Materials Science
- (814) 865-2254 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.chem.psu.edu/faculty/dla3
- Research Keywords: Self-Assembly; Bio/Chem Sensing; Biointerfaces; Nanoplasmonics; Molecular Electronics
- Ashok, S.
- Professor of Engineering Science
- (814) 863-4588 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www4.esm.psu.edu/people/faculty/?id=sxa4
- Research Keywords: Ion Beam and Plasma Processing; Semiconductor Interfaces/Contacts; Defect Engineering in Semiconductors
- Awadelkarim, Osama O.
- Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics
- Associate Director of the Center of Nanotechnology Education and Utilization
- (814) 863-1773 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www4.esm.psu.edu/people/faculty/?id=ooa1
- Research Keywords: MOSFETs; N/MEMS; Semiconductors; Gate-Dielectrics; Reliability
- Banavar, Jayanth R.
- Professor of Physics
- (814) 863-1089 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.phys.psu.edu/people/display/index.html?person_id=19
- Research Keywords: Nanofluidics; Proteins; Genetic Networks
- Bell, Richard C.
- Associate Professor of Chemistry
- (814) 949-5172 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/r/c/rcb155
- Research Keywords: Catalysis; Magnetorheological Fluids; Nanowires; Fuel Cells; Template-Based Electrodeposition
- Chan, Moses H-W
- Evan Pugh Professor of Physics
- (814) 863-2622 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.phys.psu.edu/people/display/index.html?person_id=21
- Research Keywords: Nanowires, Superconducting; Nanowires, Magnetic; Nano-Welding; Nanowires, Template Fabrication of
- Colina, Coray M.
- Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
- (814) 865-3351 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- Research Keywords: Biomaterials; Nanomaterials; Polymers; Porous Materials; Proteins; Simulation
- Costanzo, Francesco
- Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics
- (814) 863-2030 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.esm.psu.edu/people/directory/resume.php?id=fxc8
- Research Keywords: Mechanical Behavior; Constitutive Response; Thin Films; Dynamics Response; Finite Elements; Nanomechanics
- Crespi, Vincent H.
- Associate Professor of Physics and Downsbrough Professor
- Associate Director of Penn State MRSEC
- (814) 863-0163 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.phys.psu.edu/people/display/index.html?person_id=202
- Research Keywords: Carbon Nanotubes; Optical Fiber; Semiconductors; Electronic Property; Density Functional Theory
- Demirel, Melik C.
- Assistant Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics
- Pearce Development Professor
- (814) 863-2270 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.esm.psu.edu/people/directory/resume.php?id=mcd18
- Research Keywords: Biomaterials; Nanofabrication and Nanomaterials; Protein Engineering; Sensors; Simulation and Modeling
- Dickey, Elizabeth C.
- Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
- Associate Director, Materials Resarch Institute
- (814) 865-9067 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.matse.psu.edu/fac/profiles/dickey.htm
- Research Keywords: Interfaces; Electron Microscopy; Nanowires; Composites; Capacitors
- Ewing, Andrew G.
- Professor of Chemistry
- (814) 863-4653 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.neuron.huck.psu.edu
- Research Keywords: Single Cell; Lipid Domains; Artificial Cells; Membrane Materials
- Fichthorn, Kristen
- Professor of Chemical Engineering and Physics
- (814) 863-4807 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.che.psu.edu/faculty/fichthorn
- Research Keywords: Statistical Mechanics; Molecular Dynamics Simulation; Thin Film Growth; Nanoparticles; Surface Science
- Garrison, Barbara J.
- Shapiro Professor of Chemistry
- (814) 863-2103 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.chem.psu.edu/faculty/bjg
- Research Keywords: Molecular Modeling; Ion Ombardments; Laser Ablation; Surface Based Mass Spectrometry; SIMS, MALDI
- Gray, Gary L.
- Associate Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics
- Co-Director of the Laboratory for Parallel Computational Mechanics
- (814) 863-1778 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.esm.psu.edu/faculty/gray
- Research Keywords: Nanomechanics; Thin Films; Dynamic Response; Constitutive Modeling; Nonlinear Dynamics; Nanomechanics
- Green, David J.
- Professor of Ceramic Science and Engineering
- (814) 863-2011 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.matse.psu.edu/fac/profiles/green.htm
- Research Keywords: Mechanical Properties; Surface Strengthening; Strength and Fracture Toughness; Porous Materials; Residual and Thermal Stresses During Fabrication
- Grimes, Craig A.
- Professor of Electrical Engineering
- Director, Center for Solar Nanomaterials
- (814) 865-9142 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.ee.psu.edu/faculty/grimes/grimes1.html
- Research Keywords: Solar Cells; Hydrogen; Photolysis; Sensors
- Hahm, Jong-in
- Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering
- (814) 863-4801 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.che.psu.edu/faculty/hahm/index.htm
- Research Keywords: Carbon Nanotubes; Silicon Nanowire; Zinc Oxide Nanoplatform; Biosensing; Biosensors
- Heaney, Peter J.
- Professor of Geosciences
- (814) 865-6821 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.geosc.psu.edu/people/faculty/personalpages/pheaney/index.html
- Research Keywords: Clays; Silica Colloids; Cation Exchange; Phase Transitions
- Huang, Tony Jun
- James Henderson Assistant Professor
- (814) 863-4209 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.esm.psu.edu/huang
- Research Keywords: Bio-MEMS; Artificial Molecular Machines; Molecular Mechanics; Nanotechnology
- Jain, Jainendra K.
- Erwin W. Mueller Professor of Physics
- (814) 863-1162 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.phys.psu.edu/people/display/index.html?person_id=38
- Research Keywords: nanotech; Nanotechnology; Nanomechanics
- Janik, Michael J.
- Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering
- (814) 863-9366 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.engr.psu.edu/directory/details.aspx?q=MJJ13&LandOn=Gen&PubCount=19&ResCount=2
- Research Keywords: Catalysis; Density Functional Theory; Fuel Cells; Modeling; Simulation; Surface Science
- Jensen, Lasse
- Assistant Professor of Chemistry
- (814) 867-1787 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- Research Keywords: Nanoplasmonics; Biosensors; Density Functional Theory; Raman Scattering; Electronic Properties; Surface Science
- Keating, Christine D.
- Associate Professor of Chemistry
- (814) 863-7832 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.chem.psu.edu/faculty/cmd8
- Research Keywords: Biosensors; Nanoparticles; Optical Properties; Assembly; Bioconjugates
- Kim, Seong H.
- Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering
- (814) 863-4809 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.che.psu.edu/faculty/kim
- Research Keywords: Nanomaterials; Surface Science; Organic Conductor; RF Plasma; Biocatalysis
- Komarneni, Sridhar
- Distinguished Professor of Clay Mineralogy
- (814) 865-1542 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://cropsoil.psu.edu/people/faculty/komarnenis.cfm
- Research Keywords: Nanocomposites; Nanowires; Nanophases; Synthesis of Nanomaterials; Metal Nanodots
- Kubicki, James D.
- Professor of Geosciences
- (814) 865-3951 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.geosc.psu.edu/people/faculty/personalpages/jkubicki/index.html
- Research Keywords: Bioenergy; Biointerfaces; Density Functional Theory; Nanoparticles; Surface Science; Vibrational Spectroscopy
- Lakhtakia, Akhlesh
- Charles Godfrey Binder Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics
- (814) 863-4319 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.esm.psu.edu/~axl4
- Research Keywords: Sculptured Thin Films, Optical Sensors, Tissue Engineering, Biomedical Substrates; Chiral and Bianisotropic Materials; Electromagnetics, Acoustics, Elastodynamics; Negative Refraction, Negative Phase Velocity; Carbon Nanotubes, Nano Education
- Li, Qi
- Professor of Physics
- (814) 863-5347 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.phys.psu.edu/people/display/index.html?person_id=39
- Research Keywords: Magnetic Nanostructures; Giant Magnetoresistance Effect; Multifunctional Oxide Thin Films; Spintronics; Superconductivity
- Logan, Bruce E.
- Kappe Professor of Civil Engineering
- COE Environmental Institute
- (814) 863-7908 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.engr.psu.edu/ce/enve/logan/
- Research Keywords: Fuel Cells; Hydrogen; Wastewater; Bioenergy; Electricity
- Lueking, Angela
- Associate Professor of Energy & Geo-Environmental Engineering
- (814) 863-6256 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.eme.psu.edu/faculty/lueking.htm
- Research Keywords: Sensors and Actuators; Carbon Nanomaterials; Catalysis; Nanotubes
- Mayer, Theresa
- Professor of Electrical Engineering
- (814) 863-8458 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.ee.psu.edu/faculty/tmayer/tmayer1.html
- Research Keywords: Molecular Electronics; Semiconductor Nanowire; Optical Metamaterials; Nanosensor; Self-Assembly; Electronic and Optical Devices
- Mohney, Suzanne E.
- Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
- (814) 863-0744 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.matse.psu.edu/fac/profiles/mohney.htm
- Research Keywords: Nanowires; Contacts; Nanoelectronics; Metallization; Semiconductors
- Muhlstein, Christopher L.
- Associate Professor of Materials Science & Engineering
- (814) 865-1523 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.matse.psu.edu/fac/profiles/mulst.htm
- Research Keywords: Magnetism; Fracture; Fatigue; Deformation; Mechanical Behavior
- Pantano, Carlo G.
- Distinguished Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
- Director, Materials Research Institute
- (814) 863-2071 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.matse.psu.edu/fac/profiles/pantano.htm
- Research Keywords: Electronic and Optical Devices; Thin Film Coatings; Silica; Surfaces and Interfaces; Glass
- Runt, James P.
- Professor of Polymer Science
- (814) 863-2749 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.matse.psu.edu/fac/profiles/runt.htm
- Research Keywords: Polymer Dynamics, Dielectric Spectroscopy; Ion-Containing Polymers, Electrolytes; Biomedical Polymers, Segmented Polyurethanes; Polymer Blends
- Samarth, Nitin
- Professor of Physics
- (814) 863-0136 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.phys.psu.edu/people/display/index.html?person_id=46
- Research Keywords: Magnetic Semiconductor Nanostructures; Epitaxy and Nanofabrication; Spintronics; Quantum Information Processing; Opto-Electronics
- Schiffer, Peter E.
- Professor of Physics
- (814) 865-5982 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.phys.psu.edu/~schiffer/
- Research Keywords: Glass; Electronic Materials; Magnetism
- Sen, Ayusman
- Professor of Chemistry
- Head, Department of Chemistry
- (814) 863-2460 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.chem.psu.edu/faculty/axs20
- Research Keywords: Nanotechnology; Polymer Science; Materials Science; Catalysis; Composites
- Siedlecki, Christopher A.
- Assistant Professor of Surgery and Bioengineering
- (717) 531-5716 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://fred.psu.edu/ds/retrieve/fred/investigator/cas38
- Research Keywords: Biomaterials; Medical Devices; Soft Lithography
- Snyder, Alan J.
- Professor of Surgery and Bioengineering
- Director, Office of Technology Development, College of Medicine
- Asst. Chief, Division of Artificial Organs
- (717) 531-7068 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://fred.psu.edu/ds/retrieve/fred/investigator/ajs5
- Research Keywords: Biomaterials; Blood; Technology Transfer; Active Materials
- Song, Chunshan
- Professor of Fuel Science
- Director, The Energy Institute
- (814) 863-4466 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.eme.psu.edu/faculty/song.html
- Research Keywords: Catalyst; Desulfurization; Fuel Reforming; Fuel Processing for Fuel Cells; Shape-Selective Molecular Sieves
- Tadigadapa, Srinivas
- Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering
- (814) 865-2730 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.ee.psu.edu/faculty/tadigadapa/tadigadapa.html
- Research Keywords: Sensors and Actuators; Thermal Sensors; Quartz Resonaotors; Micromachining Processes; Microactuators; Sensors and Actuators
- Trolier-McKinstry, Susan
- Professor of Ceramic Science and Engineering
- Director of W. M. Keck Smart Materials Integration Laboratory
- (814) 863-8348 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.matse.psu.edu/fac/profiles/mckinstry.htm
- Research Keywords: Ferroelectrics; Dielectrics; N/MEMS; Thin Films; Electronic Properties
- Velegol, Darrell
- Professor of Engineering
- (814) 865-8739 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.che.psu.edu/faculty/velegol/index.htm
- Research Keywords: Colloidal Assembly; Bottom-Up Assembly; Nanocolloids; Nanoparticles; Charge Nonuniformity
- Wang, Qing
- Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
- (814) 863-0042 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.matse.psu.edu/fac/profiles/qwang.htm
- Research Keywords: Polymers; Nanocomposites; Ferroelectrics; Eleectronic Properties; Capacitors; Fuel Cells
- Weiss, Paul S.
- Professor of Chemistry
- (814) 865-3693 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.chem.psu.edu/faculty/stm
- Research Keywords: Nanomechanics; Surface Science; Molecular Devices; Scanning Probe Microscopy; Nanobiotechnology; Self-Assembly
- Winograd, Nicholas
- Evan Pugh Professor of Chemistry
- (814) 863-0001 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.chem.psu.edu/faculty/nxw
- Research Keywords: Bioimaging; Mass Spectrometry; Surface Analysis
- Wolfe, Douglas E.
- Research Associate and Assistant Professor of Materials
- (814) 865-0316 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.mri.psu.edu/
- Research Keywords: Nanolayers and Coatings; Multilayer Coatings; Corrosion Resistance; Erosion Resistance; Antibacterial Films
- Zydney, Andrew
- Professor of Chemical Engineering
- Head, Department of Chemical Engineering
- (814) 863-7113 - Validate to view address - Send e-mail via form
- http://www.engr.psu.edu/directory/details.aspx?q=ALZ3&LandOn=Gen&PubCount=167&ResCount=42
- Research Keywords: Biomaterials; Nanotechnology; Porous Materials; Proteins
