Soft matter materials such as polymers, molecular crystals, biomaterials, nanomaterials, and flexible electronics, are of significant interest to the DoD and the broader scientific community for applications in lightweight systems, biosensors, adaptive materials, and soft robotics. The formation of robust structure-processing-property relationships for soft matter is challenged by difficulty in understanding their complex structure across length scales. This opportunity is focused on the development of new characterization methodologies for novel materials. The methodologies required incorporate understanding of the underlying physics of the material and utilize emerging approaches such as machine learning and quantum-based approaches for moving beyond the limitations of traditional experimentation. Characterization tools of interest include transmission electron microscopy, optical and fluorescence microscopy, X-ray scattering, and mechanical analysis, with particular interest in in-situ and in-operando experimentation. Research performed in this opportunity will push these methods to be faster, higher resolution, across multiple length scales, and containing information content from a variety of sources.  

 

References:

·      Islam, A. E.; Martineau, R.; Crasto, C.; Kim, H.; Rao, R.; Maruyama, B.; Kim, S. S.; Drummy, L. F. Graphene-Based Electrolyte-Gated Field-Effect Transistors for Potentiometrically Sensing Neuropeptide-Y in Physiologically Relevant Environments. ACS Applied Nano Materials 2020.

·      S Kim, L Xing, A Islam, MS Hsiao, Y Ngo, OM Pavlyuk, RL Martineau, C Hampton, C Crasto, J Slocik, MP Kadakia, J Hagen, NK-Loughnane, RR Naik, LF Drummy. In Operando Observation of Neuropeptide Capture and Release on Graphene Field-Effect Transistor Biosensors with Picomolar Sensitivity, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 11, 15, 13927-13934, 2019.

·      Y Jiao, A Tibbits, A Gillman, MS Hsiao, P Buskohl, LF Drummy, RA Vaia. Deformation Behavior of Polystyrene-Grafted Nanoparticle Assemblies with Low Grafting Density. Macromolecules, 51, 18, 7257-7265, 2018.

key words

Polymers, biomaterials, microscopy, nanomaterials, flexible electronics, adaptive materials, sensors, biosensors, characterization, scattering

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral and Senior applicants