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Professor of Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Physics, Macromolecular Science and Engineering, and Applied Physics
3406 G.G. Brown (Office)
3440 G.G. Brown (Lab)
(734) 615-6296
FAX: (734) 764-7453
sglotzer@umich.edu
Assembly of nanoscale systems; supercooled and metastable liquids and complex fluids, colloids, and complex fluids; biomimetic materials design; computer simulation.
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Research Interests
For complete information about the Glotzer group's research activities, please go to the group web page
Assembly of Nanoscale Systems
The new revolution in nano-science, engineering and technology is being driven by our ability to manipulate matter at the molecular and supramolecular level to create "designer" structures. My group uses computer simulation to understand the fundamental principles of how nanoscale systems, such as Buckyballs, nanotubes, quantum dots, or silica "cubes"; linked by conventional and bio-polymers, self-assemble, and to discover how to control the assembly process to engineer new materials and devices. By mimicking biological assembly through, e.g., the use of DNA as assemblers of nano-sized objects, we are learning how to nano-engineer systems that are self-assembling, self-sensing, self-healing, and self-regulating.
FY 2003-2004 PROJECTS IN THIS AREA
- Multiscale Simulation of the Synthesis, Assembly and Properties of Nanostructured Organi/Inorganic Hybrid Materials
- Simulation of DNA- and Polymer-Mediated Nanoscale Assembly
- Simulation Strategies for Biomolecular Assembly of Nanoscale Building Blocks
- Integrated Multiscale Modeling of Molecular Computing Devices Molecular Motion in Polymers, Colloids, and Complex Fluids
Molecular Motion in Polymers, Colloids, and Complex Fluids
The transport behavior of complex fluids differs remarkably from that of simple liquids. For example, in polymers and colloids, motion becomes highly cooperative near the glass transition, resulting in dramatic changes to transport and rheology. My group is developing theory and simulation tools to understand this phenomenon, and elucidate the nature of supercooled liquids, vitrification and crystallization. We have discovered that particles (in the case of colloids) and molecules (in the case of molecular liquids) move cooperatively in "string-like" structures near their glass transition. We are searching for similar structures in several different types of fluids to determine how universal the phenomena is, and are developing a statistical mechanical framework to describe this "dynamical heterogeneity";. Our work in this area has broad application ranging from pharmaceuticals and drug design, micro- and nanofluidics, information technology, nanolubrication, food preservation and processing, to sporting goods.
FY 2003-2004 PROJECTS IN THIS AREA
- Cooperative molecular motion and spatially heterogeneous dynamics in supercooled liquids and glasses
- Role of Spatially Heterogeneous Dynamics and Polydispersity in the Early Stages of Homogeneous Nucleation: Application to the Promotion and Suppression of Crystallization and Vitrification
Computational Nanoscience Tools and Digital Resources
Our research requires the use of sophisticated molecular and particle-based simulation, analysis, and visualization methods. To aid our investigations, we develop wherever necessary new tools for materials research.
FY 2003-2004 PROJECTS IN THIS AREA
- High performance parallel simulation and visualization codes for computational nanoscience of soft materials
- Materials Digital Library: MatDL.org
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