Surface Engineering and Molecular Assemblies (SEMA) Laboratory

School of Materials Science and Engineering and School of Polymer, Fiber, and Textile Engineering,

Georgia Institute of Technology

Molecular Science and Engineering Building, Rm. 4246, 901 Atlantic Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30332

 

 

 

Latest news, covers, and highlights

 

Sehoon, Srikanth, Eugenia, and Seth,

congratulation with nice cover for Macromolecules, August 2009!

 

Mike, congratulation with Post-Doctoral fellowship from National Research Council!

 

Ray, Mike, and Srikanth, congratulation with PhDs!

 

Sehoon, congratulation with 2nd Place Award in Research Presentations at 1st MSE Annual Graduate Symposium

 

Kyle, congratulation with 2009 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship!

 

Srikanth, congratulation with MRS Gold Graduate Student Award, Boston, 2008!

http://www.mrs.org/s_mrs/doc.asp?CID=14895&DID=212242

MRS Bulletin, 34, 379, 2009

 

Srikanth and SeHoon, congratulation with cover in Phys Chem Chem Phys, July 2008!

 

Dima and Valery, congratulations with cover in Langmuir, June 2008!

 

Srikanth and Mike, congratulations with inside front cover in Advanced Materials, December 2007!

 

Mike, congratulations with cover image in JRS-Interface, December 2007!

 

Srikanth Singamaneni, Mike McConney, Yen-Hsi Lin, SeHoon Chang, and Melbs Lemieux

congratulations with Best Poster Award at 2007 MRS Spring Meeting!

 

 

RECENT DEGREES/AWARDS/MOVES:

 

Congratulations, Ray, Srikanth, and Mike with PhD degrees, July 2009, good luck at AFRL, WSU, and GT!

 

Congratulations, Kathy with MS degree, March 2008, good luck at Luna! 

 

Congratulations, HyunHyub with PhD degree, March 2008, good luck at UC Berkeley! 

 

Dima, good luck at your new position at KCI in Texas, February 2008! 

 

Mike incorporated a small-business company, SemaDyne, http://www.semadyne.com/, to transfer our results to real world!

 

Congratulations, Melbs with the CIA Post-doctoral Fellowship at Stanford! 

 

Congratulations, Yen-Hsi with PhD defense and good luck at your new position at Whirlpool! 

 

Good luck, Sergiy at your new position at Hewlett-Packard! 

 

Good luck to Maryna at post-doctoral position at Clarkson!

 

Good luck to Chaoyang at Assistant Professor position at The University of South Dakota!

 

Congratulations, Sergiy with the 2007 ISU MSE Graduate Research Excellence Award! 

 

The 2007 Zaffarano Prize for Graduate Student Research: to recognize superior performance in publishable research by at Iowa State goes to Sergiy!!!!

 

We are in world-wide news:

 

2009

Researchers develop flow sensors based on hair structures of blind cavefish, BioMedicine

e! Science News

EUREKALERT, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News

Hair Structures Of Blind Cavefish Inspire New Generation Of Sensors, Science Daily

ScienceMode

UnderwaterTimes

Bimetallic strip inspires nanoscale thermometer, February 5 2009

http://nanotechweb.org/cws/article/tech/37596

 

2008

Discovery Channel, Research News on flow sensors, November 6 2008

 

Sensors go with the flow, Chem. Techn., November 04, 2008

http://www.rsc.org.www.library.gatech.edu:2048/Publishing/ChemTech/Volume/2009/01/with_the_flow.asp

 

Highlight paper in Adv. Funct. Mater., 2008 in MRS Materials News:

http://www.mrs.org/s_mrs/sec.asp?CID=1920&DID=84063

 

Feature Article in Langmuir, 2008 has been cited in the RxNews:

http://www.newsrx.com/ <http://www.newsrx.com/>

 

2007

J. Edwards, Nanotubes feel the force…, Chem. World, 2007, 4, 29.

http://www.rsc.org.

 

H. Hogan, Suspended and Placed over Microcavities, Quantum Dots Become Brighter, Photonic Spectra, 2007, 11, p.98

http://www.photonics.com/content/spectra/2007/November/nanophotonics/89550.aspx

 

2006

SPIE Newsroom, Solution processing simplifies the manufacturing of carbon-nanotube transistors,

http://newsroom.spie.org/x4540.xml?ss=print

 

B. Gray, Artificial Arrays Could Help Submarines Make Like a Fish, Science, 2006, 313, 1382-1383.

articles\Science Art2006.pdf

 

S. Trohalaki, Polymer-Silicon Microcantilevers serve as ultrasensitive IR detectors, MRS Bull., 2006, 31, 438-439. http://www.mrs.org/s_mrs/sec_subscribe.asp?CID=6703&DID=174873

 

L. Savage, What a tiny, tangled web we weave… Biophotonics Intern., 2006, #4, 84. http://www.photonics.com/bioPhotonicsHome.aspx

 

2005:

J. Crawshaw, Nanomembranes with novel properties, Chem. Technology, 2005, 2, T41.

http://www.rsc.org/Publishing/ChemTech/Volume/2005/11/nanomembranes.asp

 

T. Xu, CNT arrays encapsulated into freely suspended flexible films, MRS Bull., 2005, 30 (7), 501; http://www.mrs.org/publications/bulletin/

 

E. LeQuire, Synthesis of one-dimensional nanostructures, APS Science, 2005, ANL-05/04, 102-103.

 

2004:

Freemantle, M. Nanocomposite membranes are highly sensitive,

Chem. Eng. News, 2004, 82(42), p. 46; http://pubs.acs.org/cen/ncw2004/8242scic.html

 

N. Kotov, Nanocomposites are stretched thin,

Nature Materials, 2004, 3, 669-671 http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/DynaPage.taf?file=/nmat/journal/v3/n10/full/nmat1224.html

 

C. Sealy, Bending over backwards for nanotubes. Materials Today, 2004, 5, p. 9. http://www.materialstoday.com/pdfs_7_5/resnews.pdf

 

Freemantle, M. Snake-inspired nanoscale films,

Chem. Eng. News, 2004, 82(16), 44; http://pubs.acs.org/cen/nlw/8216sci3.html#Anchor-37516

 

JR Minkel, Nanotubes Go with the Flow,

Physical Review Focus, February 13 2004, http://focus.aps.org/story/v13/st7

 

Smart, switchable surfaces could aid nanoscale assembly, microfuidics

Sensors, 21, February 2004, p. 11.

 

2003:

NSF Press Release, October 27 2003,

M. M. Waldrop, Researchers Create "Smart" Switchable Surfaces,; http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/03/tip031027.htm#first

 

M. Lavine, Editors’ choice: Flip-flops,

Science, 2003, 301, 1159. http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/reprint/301/5637/1159c.pdf

 

Switching Surfaces, Chemistry in Britain, 2003, 39(12), 10

 

Smart Surface Could Build Nanostructures,

The Wall Street Journal on-line, October 27 2003, http://www.betterhumans.com/Errors/index.aspx?aspxerrorpath=/Search_Engine_Links/2003/searchEngineLink.article.2003-10-27-6.aspx

 

Liz Kalaugher, Switchable surfaces sweep ahead with polymer brushes,

Nanotechweb, November 6 2003, http://nanotechweb.org/articles/news/2/11/2/1

"

Smart" Molecular Coating Could Aid Nanoscale Assembly, NASA Tech Briefs INSIDER, 10/30/2003, http://209.195.29.26/LISTSERV/SEARCH/dgssearch/showins.php?recno=305

 

Freemantle, M. Brushing up on polymers, Chem. Eng. News, 2003, 81 (15), 41.

http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/cen/81/i15/toc/toc_i15.html

 

APS Science, Annual Advanced Photon Source Report, ANL-03/15, 2003, 53.

SEMA Lab, Fall 2008

Former members of the research group work at various universities and industrial labs as faculty members and researcher scientists

For former members of the group (1996-2009) look here

 

 

Our formal address:

Surface Engineering and Molecular Assemblies Laboratory (SEMA)

School of Materials Science and Engineering

Georgia Institute of Technology, 771 Ferst Dr., NW, Atlanta, GA 30332-0245; 

Phones, office: 404-894-6081; lab: 404-385-3100

fax: 404-385-3112;

vladimir@mse.gatech.edu , http://polysurf.mse.gatech.edu/

Collaboration, Supports, and Students

Our research is supported by the US National Science Foundation, Air Force Office for Scientific Research, Army, DHS, DARPA, and private industry.

Currently, about 20 graduate students, post-doctoral associates, visitors, and undergraduate students participate in eight research projects.

Current major projects are:

The National Science Foundation-Nanotechnology Interdisciplinary Research Team, Bioinspired flexible membranes

The National Science Foundation-Division of Materials Research, Dendrimer assemblies at interfaces

The National Science Foundation-Division of Civil and Mechanical Systems, Raman substrates for biosensing

Air Force Office for Scientific Research-Biotechnology Division, Bio-hybrid Interfaces

Air Force Office for Scientific Research-DURIP, Electron microscopy of organic materials

SRC, Carbon-metal interfaces

DARPA, Chemical Sensors

DOE, Anisotropic mesoscale assemblies

 

We collaborate with a number of research labs in the USA (Akron, Cornell, Stanford, Arizona, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Clemson, Clarkson, Sandia NL, ORNL, ArgonneNL, Ames Lab, LLNL, AFRL, NRL, Ford Mo. Co., GM, Eaton, Honeywell, Alcon, Square D, Agiltron, U. Michigan, U. Illinois, Rice, Iowa State, MIT), Europe (Vienna, Bonn, Marburg, Mainz, Toulouse, Potsdam, Dresden, Nancy, Gomel, Kiev), and Asia (KIST-Seoul, Yonsei-Seoul, Nihon-Tokyo, Kyushu-Fukuoka).

13 recent papers are ranked within top 1% highly cited papers in chemistry and materials.  Papers in Langmuir, 1997 and 1998 are ranked as #13 and #57 most cited papers in this journal over the past decade.  Our recent results have been highlighted in popular magazines, Science, MRS Bull., Chem.&Eng. News, Materials Today, Sensors, Chemistry in Britain, Polymer News, NSF Press Release, and a number of covers in archival journals.  V. V. Tsukruk holds three patents and four patents are pending.

Our students are deeply involved in cutting-edge research resulted in 20+ refereed publications and 20+ national-level presentations annually delivered by members of the group.  Our findings are highly respected in scientific community as indicated by 700+ quotations in over 300+ papers annually. V. V. Tsukruk is listed among 1% most frequently cited chemists as well as materials scientists in the world.  V. V. Tsukruk published over 270+ refereed papers, 23 invited reviews, co-edited 3 books, co-authored 1 book, and organized 8 international symposia. 

During his tenure, Vladimir V. Tsukruk had received MASCAL Pioneering Nanotechnology Award (2007),NSF Special Creativity Award (2006), AFOSR Faculty Research Fellowship (1995), NSF RIA Young Investigator Award (1994), and NSF Research Opportunity Award (1994).

Vladimir V. Tsukruk has graduated with MS degree in Physics from The National University of Ukraine, which is the flagship university of the Ukraine located in the beautiful city of Kiev. 
 

He has received Ph.D. and D.Sc. degrees in Polymers Science/Chemistry from the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.  After tenure at The National Academy of Sciences for more than 10 years (1978-1989, The Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry and The Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry), he has been working as a visiting researcher at several research centers in the USA, Germany, and Japan and became a faculty member at Western Michigan University (1993-1999) and Iowa State University (1999-2006).

In 2006, he has moved his group to Georgia Institute of Technology.

Major visiting positions were:

Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, MIT, 2005                      Visiting Professor

Ecole des Mines de Nancy, France, 2001                                   Visiting Professor

US Air Force Research Lab, Wright Lab, WPAFB, 1995           AFOSR Summer Faculty Research Fellow

Ford Research&Engineering Center, USA, 1995                      NSF/Ford Visiting Scholar

Stanford University, USA, 1994                                                  NSF/ROA Visiting Scholar

Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan, 1994                                        International Visiting Scholar

The University of Akron, USA, 1992-1993                                  Research Scientist

Marburg University, Germany, 1990, 1996                                Humboldt Research Fellow

Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany, 1990-1992          Humboldt Research Fellow

Freiburg University, Germany, 1992                                           Visiting Scholar

Our students received a number of awards/internships/fellowships

Recent Student Research Awards (2003-current):

2008 MRS Gold Award, S. Singamaneni

MRS Best Poster Award at 2007 MRS Meeting, S. Singamaneni, Mike McConney, YH Lin, SH Chang, M. Lemieux

The Zaffarano Prize, ISU, 2007, S. Peleshanko

MSE Graduate Research Excellence Award, ISU, 2007, S. Peleshanko

All-University Graduate Research Excellence Award, ISU, 2006, M. Lemieux

The Zaffarano Prize, ISU, 2006, K. Genson

Paper Award at Undergraduate Research in Polymer Science, ACS Natl. Meeting, 2006, K. Anderson

ACS Travel Awards, 2006, S. Peleshanko, M. Ornatska

All-University Graduate Research Excellence Award, ISU, 2005, K. Genson

MSE Graduate Research Excellence Award, ISU, 2005, B Rybak

MSE Graduate Research Excellence Award, ISU, 2004, H. Ko

All-University Graduate Research Excellence Award, ISU, 2003, D. Julthongpiput

 

Recent Fellowships/internships (2003-current):

2009 NRC Post-doctoral Fellowship, M. McConneyi

2009 NDSEG Fellowship, K. Anderson

AFRL Summer Internships, GT, K. Anderson, M. McConney, 2008

AFRL Summer Internships, GT, K. Bergman, M. McConney, 2007

2007 CIA Post-doctoral Fellowship, M. Lemieux

The NSF GAANN Fellowship, GT, K. Bergman, 2006

NRC post-doctoral Fellowship, 2006, K. Genson

MIT, ISN internship, 2005, M. Lemieux

Intel Research Center, Summer internship, 2005, K. Bergman

Lawrence Livermore National Lab, Internship, 2004, M. Lemieux

Intel Research Center, Summer internship, 2004, K. Bergman

University of Michigan, Summer Internship, 2004, W. Lio

Argonne National Lab, Internship, 2004, K. Anderson

NIST Post-doctoral fellowship, 2003, Duangrut Julthongpiput

National Institute of Standards and Technology, Summer Internship, 2003, J. Holzmueller

DoD fellowship, Honorable mention, 2003, K. L. Genson

Kyushu University, Japan, NSF summer internship, 2003, K. L. Genson

Facilities and equipment

Major research equipment follows:

Scanning probe microscopy lab with full-scale accessories:

  • AFM microscope Nanoscope IIIa – Multimode/Picoforce (Digital Instrument, 2004)
  • AFM microscope Nanoscope IIIa - Dimension 3000 (Digital Instrument, 1995)
  • AFM microscope, Innova (Digital Instruments, 2008)
  • thermal stage, fluid cells, air tables, acoustic hoods, dry boxes

 

Other preparing and characterization instrumentation:

  • SEM, Hitachi, SN-3400N, (2009)
  • FTIR spectroscopy (Bruker, 2007)
  • Confocal Raman microscopy (WiTek, 2007)
  • UV-Vis-Raman spectrometer (Avantis, 2007)
  • Spectroscopic Ellipsometer (Woolam, 2007)
  • Leica fluorescent microscope with Craig point-shot spectrometer (Leica, 2005)
  • Zeiss optical stereo microscope, fluorescence, and inverted microscopes
  • Three fume hoods and glove boxes equipped for chemical synthesis (RP, ATPR, AP)
  • Three clean air laminar goods
  • Nanopure water supply unit (Nanopure, 2006)
  • Two spin coaters (Headway Corp.,1994, 2004)
  • Langmuir-Blodgett trough for monolayers deposition (KSV, 2004)
  • Contact angle instrument (KSV, 2006)
  • Gel-permeation chromatograph with light scattering, Breeze 1500 (Waters, 2002)
  • Reciprocal Microtribometer (MPI, 2003)
  • Quartz Microbalance (Maxtek, 2004)
  • Custom-built interference optical setup (2003)
  • Software: Materials Studio 3.0 for molecular modeling and FEMLAB for FEA analysis.

 

Beam time on a liquid surface diffractometer at Advanced Photon Source (Argonne National Lab), beam line mCAT and SANS at ORNL.

Current scientific interests:
 

  • Self-assembly of polymeric and organic molecules
  • Dendritic macromolecules as building blocks for organized assemblies at functionalized interfaces 
  • Star and hyperbranched polymeric assemblies at interfaces
  • Bio-inspired macromolecular designs
  • Bio-hybrid surface assemblies
  • Biomimetics and biological thermal sensing
  • Protein-polymer assemblies
  • Molecular lubricants for microelectromechanical systems 
  • Nanotribology and nanomechanical properties of polymeric surfaces
  • Nanotube-macromolecular assemblies
  • Nanoparticle-macromolecules assemblies
  • Layer-by-Layer Assembly
  • Free Standing Compliant Membranes
  • Functionalized start-dendritic polymers
  • Scanning Probe Microscopy of polymeric interfaces 
  • Polymer surfaces and interfaces: nanostructures and nanoproperties

Counts since January 1999

Last updated, April 2009