Jovan Mijovic (Polytechnic University), HyungKi Lee (Polytechnic University)

1. Dynamics of single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT)/ polyisoprene (PI) nanocomposites as studied by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS) and dynamic mechanical spectroscopy (DMS) Jovan Mijovic (Polytechnic University), HyungKi Lee (Polytechnic University) and Jose Kenny (University of Perugia, Italy) DMR-0346435 NSF-EC Fig. 1 Functionalization of SWNT Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) are attractive materials with tremendous application potential in multifunctional systems that range from hydrogen storage and chemical probes to sensors and nanocomposites. This is due to their exceptional stiffness and strength as well as remarkable thermal and electrical properties. Fundamental study on the molecular dynamics of nanocomposites that contain SWNTs is important because it will provide engineers and scientists with essential information on how to improve processing and control properties of these materials. In this work, SWNT/PI nanocomposites were prepared and investigated. SWNTs were functionalized (Fig. 1) to improve their compatibility with the polymer matrix, and their dielectric (Fig. 2) and rheological (Fig. 3) response were investigated. One important observation is that the functionalization of SWNT alters rheological response and enhances mechanical properties of nanocomposites. Another finding is that the chain mobility is considerably affected by the degree of interaction between polymers and SWNTs in nanocomposites. Atomic Force Microscopy SWNT-polymer nanocomposite image (NASA) Fig. 3 Rheology Fig. 2 Dielectric Spectra

2. Dynamics of Nanostructured Systems DMR-0346435 NSF-ECPI: Jovan Mijovic, Polytechnic University Education: Three Chemical Engineering Ph.D students: HyungKi Lee (4th year), Yu Bian (4th year), Sanja Ristic (3rd year), Chetan Khamar (MS, June ‘06) and four undergraduate students in Chemical and Biological Engineering: Ruel McKenzie (Senior), Anastasija Shytuhina (Junior), Darya Kozlova (Senior) and Qi Ke Chen (Junior) are involved in this program. Outreach: Every year we accommodate under-represented minority students from NY City high schools under the aegis of the YES (Youth in Engineering and Science) summer program at Polytechnic. Exchange: Three students from our program partners in Italy spent time in our lab in 2005-06: Claudio Raggi, Marco Monti and Yuri Mozetic. Photo Caption: From left to right: Sanja Ristic, Ruel McKenzie, Yu Bian, HyungKi Lee, Anastasija Shytuhina, Professor Mijovic, Darya Kozlova, Qi Ke Chen, Note: Darya is currently with Exxon-Mobil and Ruel has been accepted to graduate school at Columbia University.