Seed Projects

The IRG research projects are augmented by seed projects in materials science research. At present there are five seed projects in the CCMR funded through a combination of NSF and Cornell University resources.

• Bio-inspired Polymer-Reinforced Single Crystals: Synthesis, Structure and Mechanical Properties
  Lara Estroff (MatSci) and Shef Baker (MatSci)
  The diversity of mineralized structures formed in biology has inspired the development of synthetic routes to organic-inorganic composites with unusual morphologies and physical properties. We are developing a research program to synthesize and characterize a new class of composite materials: polymer-reinforced single crystals (PRSC’s) of calcite using a bio-inspired approach. We have recently demonstrated that crystal growth in gels is the first tractable system for systematically controlling the internal structure of calcite crystals by tuning several well-defined variables. Within this seed project our goals are (1) to understand the mechanism(s) by which organic material (e.g. fibers, proteins) is incorporated into large single crystals and learn to control the crystal growth to produce crystals with desired internal morphologies; and (2) to understand the relationships between the internal structure and mechanical properties of these composites.


• Extraction of Hot or Multiple Photogenerated Charge Carriers from Semiconductor Nanocrystals
  Tobias Hanrath (ChemE) and Frank Wise (ApplPhys)
  Charge transfer on the nanometer scale and in inhomogeneous media is poorly-understood, despite its importance to a variety of scientific areas, and applications ranging from catalysis to optoelectronics. We are investigating the transfer of photoexcited charge from nanocrystals into nanowire conductors, with a view to processes that will be relevant to nanocrystal-based solar cells. Ultrafast spectroscopy will be coupled with electrical measurements to probe the electron- and energy-transfer mechanisms. Fundamental understanding that is developed will allow optimization of interfacial charge transfer efficiency.


• Engineering Electrokinetic Activity and Anisotropy in Hydrogels
  Brian Kirby (MechE), Larry Bonassar (MechE & BioE), and Lara Estroff (MatSci)


• Lab-on-Fiber Biohazard Detection Systems
  Antje Baeumner (BioE) and Margaret Frey (FiberSci)
  To create point of use biohazard detection systems, technologies for transport, purification, concentration, capture and detection of analytes will be combined. Sensor assemblies will be formed by including molecular sensors into electrospun non-woven fabrics and fabric structure and properties will be optimized to maximize transport of analytes from liquids or moistened solid surfaces to sensing sites. Biorecognition elements incorporated into wipes or swabs will create a disposable and easy to handle method for sensing contaminants on food or medical surfaces by simply wiping the surface with the sensor assembly.


• Single-Nanoparticle Catalytic Dynamics
  Peng Chen (Chem), Roger Loring (Chem), and Abe Stroock (ChemE)
  Nanoparticles are important catalysts, but characterization of their catalytic properties is hampered by their intrinsic heterogeneity. The goal of this project is to characterize nanoparticle catalysis at the single-nanoparticle level to overcome the heterogeneity challenge and to gain fundamental knowledge of structure-activity correlations of nanoscale catalysts. The research uses a combination of single-molecule fluorescence microscopy, theory and modeling, and microfluidics to interrogate the catalytic properties of single gold nanoparticles in ambient solution conditions.