Akcora Research Group

 

Pinar Akcora

Department of Chemical Engineering

& Materials Science

Stevens Institute of Technology

1 Castle Point Terrace

McLean Hall 415

Hoboken, NJ 07030

Phone: (201) 216-5060 (office)

(201) 216-5121 (lab)

pakcora@stevens.edu

Our group explores nanoscale interactions in polymer grafted nanoparticles; colloids; and gels to create new multi-functional soft materials for energy, biotechnology and environmental uses. We investigate nanoparticles in solution and bulk to design dynamic materials for their interesting mechanical, conductive and dynamic behavior. We utilize various interactions of ionic, magnetic, polymeric and van der Waals in creating hybrid nanomaterials with tunable properties through controlling particle ordering. These nanocomposite materials are analogous to smart ones as particle-polymer interphases can be dynamic and also respond to temperature and large shear deformation unusually. They can also be designed to be biocompatible in which assembly of particles is facilitated by hydrogen bonding or through protein-protein interactions. The following pages provide an outlook of projects running in our laboratory.