Research Areas - Materials Chemistry

Research Areas - Materials Chemistry

Material chemists focus on the design, synthesis and properties of new multi-molecule arrays such as plastics, thin films and surfaces. The materials chemistry research area of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UCSB is a hotbed of innovation in materials research.

 

This research area benefits from a collaborative environment and world leaders in the fields of organic electronics and biomolecular applications. Institutions such as the Materials Research Laboratory (MRL), Center for Polymers and Organic Solids (CPOS), and California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) offer state of the art instrumentation and a forum for collaboration between groups. Details on the coursework in the materials area can be found here.

Materials Faculty

 

  • Bowers, Michael T.
    Mass spectrometery of biomolecular materials
  • Hawker, Craig
    Application of advanced organic transformations to the synthesis of initiators, macromolecules and nanostructures
  • Hayton, Trevor
    Organometallic synthesis, actinides, high-oxidation states
  • Jaeger, Luc 
    Nucleic acid nanotechnology, biomolecular self-assembly, RNA nanobiotechnology
  • Kirtman, Bernard
    Polymeric nonlinear optical properties, heterogeneous catalysis
  • Metiu, Horia
    Statistical and quantum dynamics, surface science
  • Nguyen, Thuc-Quyen
    Charge transport in organic semiconductors and nanoscale characterization of organic opto-electronic devices
  • Plaxco, Kevin W.
    Biomolecule sensors
  • Reich, Norbert O.
    Enzyme catalysis and bio-inspired nano-electronics
  • Scott, Susannah
    Surface chemistry and catalysis
  • Vlcek, Vojtech
    First principles optical and charge transport properties of semiconductors
  • Wudl, Fred
    Synthesis of organic semiconducting materials