Research Overview

image of materials that use amorphous solids - electronics, food, drugs, bio-preservation

Overview

We study the solids of organic molecules, with special attention to the different solids of the same molecules. A key property of solids is the ability of the same substance to form different and long-lasting structures. Carbon can crystallize as diamond and graphite; silicon dioxide can solidify as quartz (crystalline) and glass (amorphous). The discovery of new solid forms provides new materials (e.g., C60 and carbon nanotubes) and new knowledge of materials. Our study of organic solids is also motivated by their importance in developing drugs, organic electronics, and other soft materials. Recent studies have revealed new and surprising features of organic solids unknown for inorganic solids. In this laboratory, physical measurements and crystallization experiments are combined to understand how different solid forms can result from the same liquid and transform among themselves. Our major techniques are crystallography, calorimetry, spectroscopy, and microscopy.

Image of examples of Surface mobility controls stability

 

a set of images to help depict the stability and performance of glass crystals by the polymer additives

image representing controlling glass structures by polyamorphism and liquid-crystal order

collection of graphs depicting the rate of structure formation of liquid crystals

image depicting examples of understanding crystal neucleation

Funding and Collaboration

National Science Foundation logo   University of Wisconsin MRSEC logo       BIll & Melinda Gates Foundation logo   abbvie logo

Merck logo   Argonne National Laboratory logo   Lilly logo