Template Synthesis

Anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) is a template synthesis method that forms arrays of hexagonal pores. AAO is a well-estabilished self-organizing technique used to develop nanostructues. AAO is a very unique electrochemical technique that forms uniform, well-organized, high density pores.

Energy Storage Devices

Our research evaluates the utilization of nanostructures for energy storage devices. One of the more specific questions we are looking to answer is: Can ultra high density arrays of nanomaterials really be used to create future batteries and supercapacitors with high energy density, high power density, and long cycle lives? We are currently trying to answer this by investigating arrays of synergistic nanocomposites consisting of two or more materials, where each material is needed to offset any individual materials’ detrimental intrinsic properties. In addition, we are designing new methods to create electrodes and electrode materials with high areal density by combining previously unrelated synthesis methods such as atomic layer deposition and electrochemical deposition. Furthermore, we are analyzing the influence of pore size on the transfer of ions throughout these ultra high density arrays of nano electrode materials. We hope that these projects lead to answers that will advance future energy storage devices well beyond their current status as power backups toward their prospective use as rechargeable primary energy sources.

Fast Electrochromics

The development of conducting polymer-based electrochromic de3vices for sensors, smart mirrors and windows and flexible displays is rapidly growing. Electrochromic devices are ideal for their color-switching rate as well as the color contrast. PEDOT and its derivatives are most attractive electrochromic materials due to high contrast ratios as well as an availability of diverse colors.

Drug Delivery

We are designing silica and polymer nanotubes for a variety of biomedical applications, including drug delivery, nanodetoxification, and selective separation. An ideal nano-scale platform for such applications must possess multifunctionalitiy, small size distribution, and non-toxicity. In addition to these properties, nanotubes have several advantages over other nanoparticles studied in the biomedical field. First their inner voids can be used to load large amounts of target molecules and their open ends can be used as a gate to control capture and release. Secondly differential functionalization can allow selective attachment of moieties to the inside (i.e. drugs, radionuclides, antibodies) and outside (i.e. targeting moieties) of the nanotube surface. Thirdly, while silica nanotubes are mechanically robust with no swelling or porosity changes under physiological conditions, the polymer nanotubes can contract and expand in response to potential changes. Finally, by loading drugs inside the tubes, the outer surface can be kept biocompatible which can prevent aggregation and non-specific adsorption as commonly seen with nanoparticles where hydrophobic compounds, such as drug molecules, are attached to the outer surface. Loaded molecules can also be protected from any unwanted biological reaction such as enzymatic DNA/RNA cleavages.
Polymer nanotubes are an ideal candidate for the platform of transdermal drug delivery since they provide ultra-fast responses (~40ms) to potential changes making it possible to provide delivery rates on the scale of oral dosage. The high surface area to volume ratio of the nanotubes makes it possible to synthesize a transdermal patch that is low cost and highly marketable to industry. In addition to drug delivery systems, we are synthesizing magnetic silica nanotubes that can act as a nanodetoxification system by inactivating harmful drugs and toxins in the body. We are also synthesizing silica nanotubes for the selective separation and removal of phospholipids from a plasma membrane protein sample.

Bio-Imaging

Inorganic hollow nanoparticles and nanotubes have attracted great interest in nanomedicine because of the generic transporting ability of porous material and a wide range of functionality that arises from their unique optical, electrical, and physical properties. Son et al. have reported magnetic nanotubes (MNTs), silica nanotubes embedded with magnetite nanoparticles. The main advantage of the drug carrier having a magnetic property is that it allows the use of a powerful imaging technique, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to track drug delivery.