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In the nanomaterials & imaging lab, we investigate and develop high-performance lightweight nanomaterials of the next-generation. Such materials will be low-cost to produce, yet very versatile and multi-functional.

Principal Investigator of the Group is Prof. Hannes Schniepp.

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News

Mar 2021	Current undergrad Victor Li won an International Student Achievement Award. Students are nominated by faculty and staff for distinguishing themselves in academics, service, and leadership. Victor has done outstanding research in the lab investigating the fibrillar structure of silk.
Jan 2021	New Publication: Macromolecular Bioscience (2020) — Yujia Liang, … , Dinidu Perera, …, Hannes C. Schniepp, and Rangam Rajkhowa "Silk Protein Paper with In Situ Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles". In this article, we collaborated with Deakin University in Australia to characterize silver nanoparticles synthesized in situ on silkworm silk nanofibrils. (paper).
Nov 2020	New Publication: Macromolecules (2020) — Ngoc Chau H. Vy, … , Hannes C. Schniepp*, and Douglas H. Adamson.* "Surface-Initiated Passing-through Zwitterionic Polymer Brushes for Salt-Selective and Antifouling Materials". In this article, we present an investigation of a passing-though approach that supplies the monomer from below the initiator-functionalized surface, inverting the concentration gradient found in the traditional growing-from technique that has been shown to increase the D̵ of brushes.(paper).
Nov 2020	Current PhD student Aaron Stapel won a W&M Green Fee Fund Grant for the Diatom Project. The grant will allow the group to build a high output bioreactor for mono cultures of diatoms. W&M Article
Oct 2020	New Publication: Chemistry of Materials (2020) — Mahmoud S. Amin, Tucker Ethan Molin, Carlo Tampubolon, David E. Kranbuehl, and Hannes C. Schniepp* "Boron Nitride Nanotube Impurity Detection and Purity Verification". In this paper, we evaluate the ability of thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray diffraction, and nonresonant Raman to detect BNNT’s boron, boron oxide, and varying forms of boron nitride impurities.(paper).
May 2020	Graduation: Mahmoud Amin graduated with his Ph.D. His dissertation was titled “Boron Nitride Nanotubes (BNNTs) for Thermal Management and Structural Reinforcement”.
May 2020	Graduation: Angelica Lin graduated with her B.S. in Applied Science. She did an honors thesis on the self-assembly of native silk dope.
Feb 2020	New Publication: Biomacromolecules (2020) — Liang,… Perera,…Schniepp*, and Rajkhowa* "Protein Paper from Exfoliated Eri Silk Nanofibers". We collaborated with Deakin University in Australia to characterize silkworm silk nanofibrils using our atomic force microscope expertise. We proved that their milling and high-shear mixing techniques can produce microfibers but not nanofibrils reproducibly. (paper).
Feb 2020	New Publication: JOM (2020) — Ben H. Skopic and Hannes C. Schniepp* "Peeling in Biological and Bioinspired Adhesive Systems". Here we reviewed all biological systems for which peeling is an important failure mode. Gecko's feet and spider silk proved to be widely studied and therefore receive more attention in our review. (paper).
Jan 2020	New Student: Aaron Stapel joined the group as a Ph.D. student. He will be returning to William and Mary after completing his undergraduate in 2016 to focus research on the diatoms. Welcome!
Dec 2019	Recent graduate Dr. Qijue Wang traveled to the 2019 MRS Fall Meeting in Boston, Ma. His poster titled “Nanofibrils as the Basic Building Blocks of Natural Spider Silk” was nominated for Best Poster.
Nov 2019	Graduation: Qijue Wang graduated with his Ph.D. His dissertation was titled “Nanofibrils as the Basic Building Blocks of Spider Silk”.
Oct 2019	New Publication: Chemistry of Materials (2019) — Amin, Attwater, Pike, Williamson, Kranbuehl, Schniepp* "High-Purity Boron Nitride Nanotubes via High-Yield Hydrocarbon Solvent Processing". Here, we propose a mild, high-yield method that removes >99% of the h-BN impurities without any apparent loss or damage to the BNNTs. (paper).

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