chemists as well as materials scientists and
engineers at UCLA to work on synthesizing, understanding and applying novel
condensed-matter materials. This further strengthens our already varied
program in materials physical chemistry. Jim Heath has established a
powerfully broad effort in nanoparticles, ranging from synthesis to
optical/electronic properties to the development of a chemical computer,
and has a close experiment/theory collaboration with Bill Gelbart on
nanoparticle self-assembly. In addition, Delroy Baugh is studying the
properties of nanoclusters on surfaces and Emily Carter works on
metal-ceramic interfaces, and semiconductor and metal surfaces. Jeffrey Zink,
a physical/inorganic chemist, works on sol-gel synthesis of new optical
materials. Our two newest faculty, Ben
Schwartz and Sarah Tolbert, also
have a significant materials component to their research, in the areas of
conjugated polymers and inorganic-organic composites, respectively. Their
interests overlap with those of Daniel Kivelson, Chuck Knobler, Bill Gelbart and Andrea Liu, who work on complex fluids materials such as
supercooled liquids, surfactant systems, polymers and liquid crystals.
Another new faculty member, Yung-Ya Lin,
designs and synthesizes "smart probe" (protein-specific or proton-exchange
ligands) for magnetic resonance molecular imaging.
Our collaborations with each other and with faculty in physics, materials
science and electrical engineering make this one of the most interactive
groups in the country in materials chemistry.
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