Past Research Highlights
Molecular Dynamics Simulations For Polymer-Functionalized Graphene Normal Mode Interface Load Transfer at the Nanoscale |
Simulation in LAMMPS of polyethylene chains being separated from a functionalized graphene sheet to measure the normal force vs separation response. Due to the functional groups and the gripping domain, the polyethylene chains are stretched to the point of cleavage.
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Molecular Dynamics Simulations For Polymer-Functionalized Graphene Normal Mode Interface Load Transfer at the Nanoscale |
Simulation in LAMMPS of polyethylene chains being separated from a functionalized graphene sheet to measure the normal force vs separation response. Due to the functional groups not being bonded to polymer chains which extend into the gripping domain, the polyethylene chains are stretched, but untangle instead of reaching the point of cleavage.
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Molecular Dynamics Simulations For Polymer-Graphene Normal Mode Interface Load Transfer at the Nanoscale |
Simulation in LAMMPS of 10 entangled polyethylene chains of 80 repeat units in length being separated from a graphene sheet to measure the normal force vs separation response. Due to the relatively short length of the polymer chains, there is insufficient entanglement of chains such that rather than observing chain cleavage, disentanglement is observed. It is also of note that the there is sufficient affinity between the polymer chains and the graphene due to van der Waals interactions that part of the disentangled polymer remains with the graphene surface.
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Molecular Dynamics Simulations For Polymer-Graphene Sliding Mode Interface Load Transfer at the Nanoscale |
Simulation in LAMMPS of 10 entangled polyethylene chains of 80 repeat units in length being separated from a graphene sheet to measure the sliding force vs separation response. Due to the relatively short length of the polymer chains, there is insufficient entanglement of chains such that rather than observing chain cleavage, disentanglement is observed. It is also of note that the there is sufficient affinity between the polymer chains and the graphene due to van der Waals interactions that part of the disentangled polymer remains with the graphene surface.
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Dielectrophoresis Applied to Create Carbon Nanotube Filaments |
Use of AC electric field to form filaments of carbon nanotubes in alignment with the direction of the applied electric field. The carbon nanotubes were dispersed in a UV photopolymerizable acrylate solution with the electric field applied prior to applying the UV light to solidify the polymer and lock the carbon nanotubes into position.
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Dielectrophoresis Applied to Rotate Carbon Nanotube Agglomeration |
Use of AC electric field to rotate carbon nanotube agglomeration into alignment with the direction of the applied electric field. The carbon nanotubes were dispersed in a UV photopolymerizable acrylate solution with the electric field applied prior to applying the UV light to solidify the polymer and lock the carbon nanotubes into position.
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