Maye Research Group
(under major construction)
Research
Team Members
Facilities
News
Opportunities
Maye Research Group(under major construction) |
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Research |
Team Members |
Facilities |
News |
Opportunities |
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Research Interests: Our group's background in inorganic chemistry, catalysis, materials science, and biotechnology allows for a unique perspective on the current limitations in energy conversion/storage and national security capabilities. The underlying technologies of these energy and sensor applications are very similar, and depend on the precision of which interfaces are constructed, accessible surface areas and reaction sites, as well as high fidelity microstructure control of packaging. These technologies can benefit from the integration and optimization of materials based on inorganic nanoparticles for lighter, cleaner, and more efficient energy conversion processes, increased sensitivities of chemical and biological sensors, and self-healing interfaces and processes. We approach these problems from a "bottom-up" perspective, where our "nanofabrication" takes place not in expensive clean rooms and fabrication facilities, but instead in a beaker and glove box, in-which we utilize inorganic and materials chemistry to carry out the synthesis of a number of nanoparticles consisting of metallic, magnetic, and semiconductive cores in the size range between 2-100 nm. These particles are surrounded by shells of organic ligands or biological materials, which are then utilized for self-assembly, processes in-which the chemical or biochemical coatings are exploited to perform work by organizing themselves into 1D clusters, 2D thin-films, or 3D assemblies, of which we utilize for the applications of interest. Synthesis: While a number of state of the art synthetic approaches already exist for the fabrication of nanomaterials, there are still limitations and unknowns related to alloy phase behavior, interfacial reactivities, and the controlled construction of heterostructures of multiple particles. Toward this end, we are exploring a number of conventional and un-conventional approaches towards the synthesis of nanoparticles for applications as catalysts, light emitting diodes, and photovoltaics. Biomimetic Assembly: Nature has given us a tremendous example of the potential to self-assemble an organized hierarchy of autonomous nano- and micro-components with functional reaction centers that perform highly efficient energy transfer and ion transport, information storage, replication, and self-healing. Each of these natural biological and biochemical processes can be considered the ultimate state of the art, and a model for non-biological systems. In the laboratory, we attempt to "mimic" these systems using inorganic nanomaterials, surface chemistry, and both native and synthetic biomaterials. For example, if coated with a particular biomaterial, can a nanoparticle take the properties of the biomaterial? That is, can we start to self-assemble our synthesized nanomaterials into structures that mimic cells, membranes, or DNA? And if so, will our abiotic materials have similar functionality as their biotic analogues? |
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| ACS 2009 in Washington D.C. | ||
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After poster session: Lisa Pang, Hyunjoo Han, Josh Zylstra, Dr. Maye, Gianna Di Francesco, Corey Hine |
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Lab News: August 2009: Maye Group presents their new results at ACS in Washington D.C. (photos) August 2009: REU Students Gianna, Lisa, Andrew, Louis, and Julia present their posters! (photos) July 2009: Syracuse University announces new agreement with Brookhaven National Laboratory! July 2009: Corey and Hyunjoo's quantum dot samples featured on SU frontpage! June 2009: Undergraduate Students Lisa & Gianna to attend ACS meeting with Group. June 2009: Graduate Students Hyunjoo, Corey, Josh & Zach have posters accepted for the ACS National Meeting in August at Washington D.C.! June 2009: The group welcomes five summer REU students; Gianna, Lisa, Andrew, Louis, & Julia! May 2009: Undergraduates Gianna & Lisa recieve prestigious REU positions, and Nate recieves iREU for Austria! January 2009: The Maye Lab welcomes new undergraduate student Nate to the Lab! December '08: Laboratories are complete, and all equipment up and running. November '08: The Maye Lab welcomes new Ph.D. students Hyunjoo, Corey, Josh & Zach! October '08: Undergraduates Sean, Gianna, Lisa, & Amber join the lab and begin lab set-up, initial experiments, and instrumentation testing! September '08: Dr. Maye arrives on Campus. |
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Group Meeting August '09: Louis Soloman (CHEM-REU), Josh Zylstra (grad), Corey Hine (grad), Hyunjoo Han (grad),Gianna Di Francesco (Chem-REU), Lisa Pang (SBI-REU), Julia Langer (Chem-iREU), Andrew Tretiak (Chem-REU), |
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Group Members: The group has welcomed a number of new graduate and undergraduate students over the past two semesters; they are each off to a great start!
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Core Facilities: We have a number of in-lab instrumentation that allows us to carry out our research, in addition to these we utilize the Chemistry Department’s facilities, as well as local user facilities.
Core Science: The lab is interested in the synthesis of a number of solid-state materials, including semiconductive quantum dots (q-dots), metallic nanomaterials (Pt, Ag, Au). Students also explore further surface-chemical functionalization and self-assembly of these materials. The nanomaterials are tested in model energy transfer studies, and characterized by a suite of analytical tools.
Core Teaching: We choose to synthesize materials that allow students to learn a number of chemical and analytical skills. These materials also serve as an introduction to a diverse & modern ‘interdisciplinary’ way of approaching materials and energy problems. '
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