Nanostructured Polymer Assemblies
Senior Investigators:
- Michael F. Rubner (acting group leader)
- Robert E. Cohen
- Paula T. Hammond
- Caroline A. Ross
- Edwin L. Thomas
Research Goals
Polymers and polymer nanocomposites with functional electronic, optical and bio-interface properties are becoming increasing more important in many new technologies that exploit nanoscale related properties and effects. This IRG seeks to gain a fundamental understanding of the factors that control the way these oftentimes complex, functionally active polymer systems organize at the molecular and nanoscale levels and use this knowledge to control and significantly enhance the performance of electronic, magnetic, biosensor and optical devices based on these materials. The group explores primarily two complementary routes for fabricating supramolecular polymer-based thin film heterostructures: layer-by-layer assembly and block copolymer templating schemes, both largely pioneered by members of this group.
Read more about IRG-II activities in our 2008 annual report (PDF)
Highlights of Recent Research:
Bacteria choose to stick to a surface or not based on mechanical stiffness (2008)
Dual-function drug-release coating mimics hummingbird wings (2008)
Nanocoatings harvest water from fog (2007)
"All-in-one" self-cleaning, anti-reflection coatings from nanoparticles (2007)
Nanoparticles help see through the fog (2006)
Bottom-up meets top-down (2005)
Ultra-water repellant coatings: a lesson from nature (2005)
Putting the squeeze on plastics (2004)
Baroplastics: Plastics that mold without heating (2003)
Nanoporous anti-relection coatings (2003)
