Research focuses on the physico-chemical properties (e.g., size, shape, surface charge, and functionalization, stability and reactivity) of manufactured and engineered nanomaterials of commercial importance (e.g., gold, silver, ceria, titania, and cellulose). Activities encompass the development and validation of advanced methods and novel instrumentation. Emphasis is on addressing pre-competitive research that supports industry needs for advanced nanomaterials development, quality control, and regulatory requirements. All essential instruments required for these activities, including state-of-the-art scanning x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ion mobility spectroscopy, field flow fractionation, ICP-MS, ATR-FTIR, DLS, UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fluorescence, TEM, SEM and AFM, are available to this research. Opportunities exist to investigate other nanomaterials, as well as to develop new methods to detect and quantify nanomaterials in biologically relevant media and consumer products. This work is aided by close interaction with industry, including Chemours (formally Dupont) and other Federal agencies involved in the regulatory and scientific aspects of nanotechnology. This project will enable a clearer regulatory pathway for the accepted use of nanotechnologies for consumer and industrial applications, and provide industry with the measurement tools needed to advance development and adoption of nanomaterial based next-generation products.

 

key words

Chemical properties; Engineered nanomaterial; Nanoparticle; Nanotechnology; Physical properties; Physicochemical properties; Surface composition; Interfacial properties; Surface charge; Detection; Measurement; Functional nanomaterials; Surface reactivity; Quantitative analysis;

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral applicants