News Archive: 2007–2011

2011

Dec 2011	We present our latest results about showing giant stress transfer between single graphene sheets and polymers at the 2011 Fall MRS Meeting in Boston, MA.
Nov 2011	Our publication on graphene oxide nanocomposites gets published in Macromolecules, the #1 polymer journal: "In Situ Reduction of Graphene Oxide in Polymers". Macromolecules 44, 9821–9829 (2011).
Oct 2011	Prof. Schniepp gives an invited talk on graphene-based polymer nanocomposites at the 2011 SERMACS meeting in Richmond, VA.
Aug 2011	Our paper on graphene–polymer interactions gets published: "Measurement of the interfacial attraction between graphene oxide sheets and the polymer in a nanocomposite". J. Appl. Polym. Sci.122, 3739–3743 (2011).
Jun 2011	Prof. Schniepp is the recipient of an NSF EAGER Award from the U. S. National Science Foundation (award # DMR-1111030). The award will provide $46,000 over 12 months to investigate Graphene Oxide as a next-generation photoelectronic material with an adjustable band gap.
May 2011	Dr. A. Jaeton Glover joins our team as a postdoctoral researcher.
May 2011	Prof. Schniepp gives an invited talk “Evaluation of Soil-Release Polymers by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)” at International Specialty Products, Wayne, New Jersey.
Apr 2011	Congratulations to our team member Eric Yang, who was selected to receive a Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC) Undergraduate Research Scholarship for the 2011–2012 academic year.
Mar 2011	Our work on thermal processing of GO polymer nanocomposites is presented at the ACS Spring Meeting of Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering.
Feb 2011	Laura Rickard from our research group was selected to present our on work implant materials to members of the VA General Assembly and government representatives.
Jan 2011	Our paper on Titanium-based implant materials gets published: "Surface oxide net charge of a titanium alloy: Comparison between effects of treatment with heat or radiofrequency plasma glow discharge". Coll. Surf. B82, 173–181 (2011).

2010

Dec 2010	Prof. Schniepp gives an invited talk “Graphene–Polymer Nanocomposites: Systematic Analysis and Design of Super-Strong Materials”, Institute of Materials Science (IMS) Seminar, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut.
Dec 2010	The Schniepp group receives a research grant from the Thomas F. Jeffress and Kate Miller Jeffress Memorial Trust. The funds will greatly enhance our silk project.
Nov 2010	Outreach activity: Prof. Schniepp gives science classes for 120 middle school students at Berkeley Middle School in Williamsburg, VA, teaching about touching atoms with a sharp AFM tip. This activity is part of W&M's 2010 Laserfest.
Nov 2010	We present our latest results about directly measuring interactions between single graphene sheets and polymers at the 2010 Fall MRS Meeting in Boston, MA.
Nov 2010	Prof. Schniepp to give public presentations during W&M's 2010 Laserfest Title: “Atomic Force Microscopy: Sub-Nanometer Precision Guided by Laser Light”
Oct 2010	Publication appears in Applied Optics: "Tuning of structural color using a dielectric actuator and multifunctional compliant electrodes". Appl. Opt.49, 6689–6696 (2010).
Sep 2010	We have an opening for a new PhD student in our group. Starting date: Fall 2011. For more information, click here
Aug 2010	Laura Rickard joins our research group as a new PhD student. Laura investigates the interfacial forces in the vicinity of mineral surfaces using atomic force microscopy.
Jul 2010	We welcome Di Zhang as a new graduate student to our team. Di studies surface adsorption of amphiphilic polymer molecules at the solid–liquid interface.
Jun 2010	Our conference paper gets published: "Direct Measurement of the Interfacial Attractions between Functionalized Graphene and Polymers in Nanocomposites". AIP conf. proc.1255, 95–97 (2010).
Jun 2010	Eric Yang (physics) joins our research group as an undergraduate researcher. He is currently in his freshman year. He will investigate optical properties of nanomaterials.
Jun 2010	Our work on nanocomposites is presented at the Times of Polymers (TOP) conference in Italy.
Mai 2010	Congratulations to our team member Yangwei Liu for successfully graduating from the Applied Science graduate program!
Mai 2010	We received our new Olympus IX-71 inverted light microscope, performing many contrasting techniques, including dark field and DIC. This instrument also integrates with our atomic force microscope (AFM), for simultaneous optical/AFM measurements.
Mai 2010	We congratulate TJ Wallin for successfully completing his senior thesis project in our lab and for graduating from William & Mary with a physics/chemistry double major.
Apr 2010	Chemistry junior Joe Christesen joins our research team for a research summer stay and to perform an “Honors” senior thesis in our research group.
Apr 2010	We present our latest results at the 2010 Graphene Week at University of Maryland University College in College Park, Maryland.
Feb 2010	We start a new research thrust exploring the fascinating the properties of silkworm silks and spider silks.

2009

Dec 2009	Our 2009 group excursion leads us to Yorktown.
Dec 2009	Prof. Schniepp gives an invited presentation on the application of AFM with nanomaterials at NT-MDT's event at the 2009 MRS Fall Meeting.
Nov 2009	We present our latest results on graphene–polymer nanocomposites at the 2009 Fall MRS Meeting in Boston, MA.
Oct 2009	TJ Wallin, a senior undergraduate student, joins our group. For his senior thesis (physics) he will work on graphene-reinforced nanocomposites in our laboratory.
Oct 2009	The Schniepp research group receives a multi-year NIH sub-award to investigate implant surfaces and molecular organization of protein on surfaces. The work is carried out in collaboration with Dr. Daniel MacDonald, Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.
Oct 2009	H. Schniepp gives an invited talk in the Physics Colloquium at Virginia Commonwealth University
Sep 2009	We have an opening for a new PhD student in our group. Starting date: Fall 2010. For more information, click here
Sep 2009	H. Schniepp gives an invited talk in the Materials Science & Engineering Department Seminar at The University of Virginia
Aug 2009	Our work on surfactant micelles is featured by NT-MDT.
Jul 2009	We visualized the dynamic self-assembly of surfactant molecules with high resolution.
Jul 2009	We present our work at the 2009 nanoSTAR Commonwealth Nanoscience Meeting at The University of Virginia
Jun 2009	Our 2006 paper on Production of Single-Layer Functionalized Graphene is currently one of the 5 most-read articles of The Journal of Physical Chemistry B.
Jun 2009	We moved our Scanning Probe Microscope into our new ultra-low-noise laboratory.
Jun 2009	We present our work on graphene–polymer nanocomposites at the NASA Langley Research Center.
May 2009	Our first graphene patent is on its way!
Mar 2009	Hannes Schniepp's AFM work on graphene is featured in a cover story of ACS's Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN News).
Feb 2009	We made large single-layer functionalized graphene sheets in our laboratory and produced new high-resolution AFM images
Feb 2009	Our papers have now been cited more than 200 times!
Jan 2009	We are getting beautiful atomic-resolution STM images of graphite on our new microscope.
Jan 2009	We have produced macroscopic amounts of Single-Layer Functionalized Graphene Sheets in our new laboratory for the first time.

2008

Dec 2008	Excursion of the Nanomaterials & Imaging Lab to Norfolk, VA, visiting the USS Wisconsin and the Navy Museum.
Dec 2008	Our new "NTEGRA Prima" scanning probe laboratory was delivered and installed! The new research lab at The College of William & Mary is now fully operational.
Dec 2008	Publication appears in ACS Nano: "Bending Properties of Single Functionalized Graphene Sheets Probed by Atomic Force Microscopy". ACS Nano 2, 2577–2584 (2008). This article is another cover story.
Dec 2008	The capacity of the Imaging class (Spring 2009), has been increased to 20, in order to allow more students to take the class.
Nov 2008	Publication appears in Langmuir: "Inhibition and Promotion of Copper Corrosion by CTAB in a Microreactor System". Langmuir 24, 14269–14275 (2008).
Oct 2008	The new web page of the Department of Applied Science at The College of William & Mary — managed, designed and coded by Prof. Schniepp — was launched.
Oct 2008	Prof. Schniepp will offer a Class on Optical and Scanning Probe Microscopy in Spring 2009. For more information click here.
Sep 2008	We have an opening for a new PhD student in our group. Starting date: Fall 2009. For more information, click here
Aug 2008	We welcome incoming PhD student Yangwei Liu to our team! Yangwei will study molecular interactions at the solid–liquid interface.
Aug 2008	We welcome incoming PhD student Minzhen Cai to our team! Minzhen will develop new graphene-based nanocomposites.
Aug 2008	Start of the nanomaterials & imaging lab. The facilities are being set up.
Jul 2008	Publication appears in The Journal of Physical Chemistry C: "Orientational Order of Molecular Assemblies on Rough Surfaces", J. Phys. Chem. C 112, 14902–14906
Jun 2008	Publication appears in nature nanotechnology: "Functionalized graphene sheets for polymer nanocomposites", Nature Nanotechnol. 3, 327–331 (2008).
May 2008	Prof. Schniepp's publications get cited for the 100th time!
Apr 2008	Hannes Schniepp accepts assistant professor position at  The College of William & Mary,  in the Department of Applied Science, starting Fall 2008
Jan 2008	Publication appears in Langmuir: "Tip-Induced Orientational Order of Surfactant Micelles on Gold", Langmuir 24, 626–631 (2008).
Jan 2008	Publication appears in Nano Letters: "Raman Spectra of Graphite Oxide and Functionalized Graphene Sheets" Nano Letters 8, 36–41 (2008).

2007

Dec 2007	Hannes Schniepp gives an invited talk at Rutgers University, "Graphene-Based Building Blocks for Nanomaterials"
Dec 2007	Manuscript accepted by Langmuir: "Tip-Induced Orientational Order of Surfactant Micelles on Gold."
Sep 2007	Cover story appears in Chemistry of Materials: "Single Sheet Functionalized Graphene by Oxidation and Thermal Expansion of Graphite", Chemistry of Materials 19, 4396–4404 (2007).