====== Nanocomposites ======
~~NOTOC~~
{{ :public:research:projects:icon-nanocomposites_v2.png?nolink}} We embed nanoparticles into polymers in order to give these plastics **new functionality**. We currently focus on functionalized graphenes as nanofillers, with an emphasis on developing materials with **excellent mechanical properties** [[:public:publications:pub-10|[10]]]. However, graphene can also be used to make rubber **electrically conductive** [[:public:publications:pub-14|[14]]].
We developed several new techniques to directly measure the mechanical **interaction strength** between graphene particles and different polymers [[:public:publications:pub-15|[15]]], [[:public:publications:pub-17|[17]]]. This allows us to systematically develop new materials with improved strength and stiffness.
The described experimental techniques are enabling tools which we use for a new approach to nanocomposite development: away from the "trial & error" philosophy, and toward a systematic design of materials with predictable properties.
===== Our Nanocomposite Research in the Media =====
{| class="TableItemSpc"
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| May\_2012
| **[[http://www.wm.edu/research/ideation/science-and-technology/lighter-stronger-better4887.php|"Lighter, Stronger, Better"]]** — our research on graphene-based high-performance polymer nanocomposites is
[[http://www.wm.edu/research/ideation/science-and-technology/lighter-stronger-better4887.php|featured]] in the **[[http://www.wm.edu/research/ideation/index.php|ideation]]** magazine.
| [[http://www.wm.edu/research/ideation/science-and-technology/lighter-stronger-better4887.php|{{public:thumbs:thum_go-ideation.jpg}}]]
|}
===== Our Press Releases =====
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| 11\_Oct\_2019
| [[[[public:news:blog:2017-2020:2019-08-07_release_bnnt_purification|Press Release: William & Mary Purification Method Reveals the Next Generation of Cooling Material for Electronic Devices]] By\_Mahmoud\_Amin
We developed a method of purifying BNNTs at low temperatures with higher than 90% yield. In electronics, BNNTs are excellent electrical insulators with high thermal conductivity.
|[[:public:news:blog:2017-2020:2018-05-04_release_optical_characterization|{{ :public:thumbs:bnnt_thumb.png?nolink&48|}}]]
|-
| 6\_Apr\_2016
| [[public:news:blog:2014-2016:2016-04-06_graphene-based_coatings|New Graphene-Based Coatings]] By\_Hannes\_Schniepp
Our **new paper** shows that putting atomically thin graphene nano-sheets into plastics can make paints and coatings much better.
|[[public:news:blog:2014-2016:2016-04-06_graphene-based_coatings|{{public:thumbs:thum_polyimide-barrier.png}}]]
|}
===== Our Related Publications =====
{|class="TableSimpleWide"
|-
| [[:public:publications:pub-40|[40]]]
| **Chemistry of Materials (2019)** — Amin, Attwater, Pike, Williamson, Kranbuehl, Schniepp* \\
//[[public:news:blog:2017-2020:2019-08-07_release_bnnt_purification|"High-Purity Boron Nitride Nanotubes via High-Yield Hydrocarbon Solvent Processing"]]. //
| [[public:news:blog:2017-2020:2019-08-07_release_bnnt_purification|{{ :public:thumbs:bnnt_thumb.png?nolink&48|}}]]
|-
| [[:public:publications:pub-33|[33]]]
| **Polymer (2017)** — Hocker, Hudson-Smith, Smith, Komatsu, Dickinson, Schniepp, Kranbuehl \\
//[[:public:publications:pub-33|"Graphene oxide reduces the hydrolytic degradation in polyamide-11"]]//
| [[:public:publications:pub-33|{{public:thumbs:thum_GO-PA11.jpg}}]]
|-
|[[:public:publications:pub-30|[30]]]
| **Surface Innovations (2016)** — Dickinson, Kranbuehl & Schniepp* \\
//[[:public:publications:pub-30|"Assessing Graphene Oxide/Polymer Interfacial Interactions via Peeling Test"]]//
| [[:public:publications:pub-30|{{public:thumbs:thum_peeling.jpg}}]]
|-
|[[:public:publications:pub-29|[29]]]
| **Polymer (2016)** — Hocker, Hudson-Smith, Schniepp & Kranbuehl \\
//[[:public:publications:pub-29|"Enhancing polyimide's water barrier properties through addition of functionalized graphene oxide"]]//
| [[:public:publications:pub-29|{{public:thumbs:thum_polyimide-barrier.png}}]]
|-
|[[:public:publications:pub-18|[18]]]
| **Macromolecules (2011)** — Glover, Cai, Overbeek, Kranbuehl & Schniepp* \\
//[[:public:publications:pub-18|"In Situ Reduction of Graphene Oxide in Polymers"]]//
| [[:public:publications:pub-18|{{public:thumbs:thum_insitu.jpg}}]]
|-
|[[:public:publications:pub-17|[17]]]
| **J. Appl. Polym. Sci. B (2011)** — Kranbuehl, Cai, Glover & Schniepp* \\
//[[:public:publications:pub-17|"Measurement of the interfacial attraction between graphene oxide sheets and the polymer in a nanocomposite"]]//
| [[:public:publications:pub-17|{{public:thumbs:thum_tops.jpg}}]]
|-
|[[:public:publications:pub-15|[15]]]
| **AIP Conf. Proc. (2010)** — Cai, Glover, Wallin, Kranbuehl & Schniepp* \\
//[[:public:publications:pub-15|"Direct Measurement of the Interfacial Attractions between Functionalized Graphene and Polymers in Nanocomposites"]]//
| [[:public:publications:pub-15|{{public:thumbs:thum_tops_abs.jpg}}]]
|-
|[[:public:publications:pub-14|[14]]]
| **Appl. Opt. (2010)** — Fang, Punckt, Leung, Schniepp & Aksay \\
//[[:public:publications:pub-14|"Tuning of structural color using a dielectric actuator and multifunctional compliant electrodes"]]//
| [[:public:publications:pub-14|{{public:thumbs:thum_tunablecolor.jpg}}]]
|-
|[[:public:publications:pub-13|[13]]]
| **ACS Nano (2008)** — Schniepp, Kudin, Li, Car & Aksay \\
//[[:public:publications:pub-13|"Bending Properties of Single Functionalized Graphene Sheets Probed by Atomic Force Microscopy"]]//
| [[:public:publications:pub-13|{{public:thumbs:thum_folding.jpg}}]]
|-
|[[:public:publications:pub-10|[10]]]
| **Nature Nanotechnol. (2008)** — Ramanathan, Abdala, Stankovich, Dikin, Herrera-Alonso, Piner, Adamson, Schniepp, Chen, Ruoff, Nguyen, Aksay, Prud'homme & Brinson \\
//[[:public:publications:pub-10|"Functionalized graphene sheets for polymer nanocomposites."]]//
| [[:public:publications:pub-10|{{public:thumbs:thum_natnano.jpg}}]]
|}
===== Nanocomposite Funding =====
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| Aug\_2015
| The National Science Foundation (**NSF**) has made a
[[http://www.research.gov/research-portal/appmanager/base/desktop;jsessionid=32HWVY8QsNLKRW1LCNt8gLpGlck2vj2c4n5VwKL17sqkrqQhGL9Q!-1017189133!2133190185?_nfpb=true&_windowLabel=rsrRecentAwards_2&wsrp-urlType=blockingAction&wsrp-url=&wsrp-requiresRewrite=&wsrp-navigationalState=eJyLL07OL0i1Tc-JT0rMUYNQtgBZ6Af8&wsrp-interactionState=wlprsrRecentAwards_2_action%3DviewRsrDetail%26wlprsrRecentAwards_2_fedAwrdId%3D1534428&wsrp-mode=wsrp%3Aview&wsrp-windowState=|4-year, $324,000 award from the DMREF program]]
(**Designing Materials to Revolutionize and Engineer our Future**) to Prof. Schniepp, starting
Oct. 2015.
|[[http://www.research.gov/research-portal/appmanager/base/desktop;jsessionid=32HWVY8QsNLKRW1LCNt8gLpGlck2vj2c4n5VwKL17sqkrqQhGL9Q!-1017189133!2133190185?_nfpb=true&_windowLabel=rsrRecentAwards_2&wsrp-urlType=blockingAction&wsrp-url=&wsrp-requiresRewrite=&wsrp-navigationalState=eJyLL07OL0i1Tc-JT0rMUYNQtgBZ6Af8&wsrp-interactionState=wlprsrRecentAwards_2_action%3DviewRsrDetail%26wlprsrRecentAwards_2_fedAwrdId%3D1534428&wsrp-mode=wsrp%3Aview&wsrp-windowState=|{{public:thumbs:thum_nsf.jpg}}]]
|}
===== Current Researchers =====
{| style="text-align:center;"
|-
| **Mahmoud Amin** || **[[:public:team:schniepp|Hannes C. Schniepp]]**
|-
| {{:public:team:mahmoud_amin.jpg?150}} || [[:public:team:schniepp|{{public:team:hannes.jpg?nolink&150|}}]]
|}
===== Links =====
**[[:public:publications|All Publications of the Schniepp group]]**