Our research encompasses fundamental studies of molecular self-assembly, controlled polymer synthesis, and the development of novel processing methods for layered materials, with particular emphasis on interface-driven phenomena.

Interface Engineering, Two-Dimensional Materials, and Advanced Composites

Our pioneering work in two-dimensional materials centers on the development of thermodynamically-driven exfoliation methods. The Solvent Interfacial Trapping Method (SITM) represents our signature contribution to the field, enabling the production of pristine graphene and related layered materials without chemical modification.

The versatility of SITM extends beyond graphene to hexagonal boron nitride, the isoelectric analogue of graphite. While maintaining the layered structure and surfactant behavior of graphene, hexagonal boron nitride offers complementary properties as an electrical insulator with excellent thermal conductivity.

We also investigate graphene oxide as a complementary approach to pristine graphene. Our work emphasizes the characterization and fractionation of graphene oxide based on oxidation degree, enabling the quantification of oxidation dispersity within samples and the creation of well-defined materials for targeted composite applications.

Advanced Composite Systems

The integration of our 2D materials expertise with polymer chemistry enables the creation of advanced composite systems. Through SITM-stabilized emulsions using monomers as the continuous phase, we produce electrically conductive Pristine Graphene – polyHIPEs (polymerized high internal phase emulsions) that combine low density, mechanical robustness, and tunable electrical properties.

Our research demonstrates how fundamental understanding of interfacial phenomena can be translated into practical materials with unique property combinations previously unattainable through conventional processing methods. This approach continues to guide our exploration of new material systems and processing strategies.

Polymer Synthesis and Self-Assembly

Our polymer synthesis work employs controlled polymerization techniques including high vacuum living anionic polymerization, ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) to create well-defined macromolecular architectures.

A particular focus lies in polymer brush synthesis through our novel “passing-through” methodology. This approach fundamentally alters the traditional surface-initiated polymerization paradigm by supplying monomer through the substrate rather than from the solution phase. By reversing the typical monomer concentration gradient, shorter chains near the surface experience higher monomer concentrations than longer chains, resulting in more uniform chain length distributions and higher grafting densities compared to conventional “grafting-from” or “grafting-to” strategies.