FOCUS AREAS

Our research group is focused on investigations of tunable solvent systems, such as supercritical fluids and gas expanded liquids, for applications related to nanomaterials processing, alternative fuels and specialty separations. In particular, our lab is currently focused on an number of projects including:

• Improved synthesis and separation of nanoparticles using the unique tunable physicochemical properties of gas expanded liquids and supercritical fluids
• Formation of self assembled thin film arrays of metal and semiconductor nanoparticles
• Design of non-fluorinated surfactants and stablizing ligands for use in environmentally benign supercritical fluid solvent systems
• Development of alternative fuels using gas-to-liquids technologies, such as supercritical phase Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis of synthetic diesel and gasoline
• Utilization of CO2 as an environmentally benign and safe reaction environment for industrially relevant catalytic reactions, such as direct production of hydrogen peroxide

Our laboratory’s research is currently funded by the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the Consortium for Fossil Fuel Science, the Environmental Protection Agency, UOP LLC, and the Auburn Agricultural Experiment Station.