Alan G. MacDiarmid NanoTech Institute

Most of the research in our lab involves nanoporous metal oxideswhich includes zeolites and related molecular sieves as well as layered materials such as clays. Projects include the preparation, modification and application of molecular sieves in areas ranging from catalysis to diagnostic pharmaceuticals. Active projects in my group as well as several international collaborations involve:

• Synthesis and Characterization Novel Nanoporous Metal Oxides
• Preparation of Zeolite/Molecular Sieve Encapsulated Metal Complexes
• Study of Template or Structure Directing Effects of Metal Complexes
• Molecular Sieve encapsulated Semiconductors and Metal Clusters
• Molecular Sieve Immobilized Enzymes and Drug Delivery
• Electrochemistry of Molecular Sieves and Entrapped Metal Complexes
• Electrocatalysis using Zeolite Encapsulated Metal Complexes
• Oxidation Catalysis using Zeolite Encapsulated Metal Complexes
• Oxidation Catalysis using Titanium Modified Molecular Sieves
• Fabrication of Electrochromic Films of Nanoporous Metal Oxides
• Zeolite Catalyzed Hydration, Dehydration and Rearrangement Reactions.
• Molecular Sieve Based Contrast Agents for MR Imaging
• Laser Ablation/Molecular Sieve Thin Films and Patterns
• Electrospinning of Nanoporous Metal Oxide Fibers and Composites
• Molecular Sieve Based Optical and Electronic Chemical Sensors
• Imprinted Mesoporous Molecular Sieves for Separations and Catalysis
• Zeolite/Conducting Polymer Composite Membranes
• Zeolite Composite Membranes for Fuel Cells
• Nanoparticles for Solar Cells
• Facilitated Transport and Ceramic Membrane Reactors
• Synthesis of novel metal organic frameworks (MOF)
• Electrospinning polymeric fibers as scaffolds for cell grow

Selected Publications

SBA-15 anchored polyaniline for polyelectrolyte membranes Coutinho, D. Yang, Z.; Ferraris, J.P.’ Balkus, Jr., K.J., Micropor. Mesopor. Mater ., 2005, 81, 321-332.

 The Preparation of UTD-12/ZSM-48 Membranes via Laser Ablation Pisklak, T.J.; Balkus, Jr., K.J., Micropor. Mesopor. Mater . 2005, 81,125-134.

Synthesis of Proton Conducting Tungstosilicate Mesoporous Materials and Polymer Composite Membranes Feng, F.; Coutinho, D.; Yang, Z.; Ferraris, J.P.; Balkus, Jr., K.J . Micropor. Mesopor. Mater . 2005, 81, 217-234.

Growth of ZSM-5 hollow spheres Via Laser Ablation X iong, C.; Balkus, Jr. K.J., Micropor. Mesopor. Mater . 2005, 86, 14-22.

Electrospun Mesoporous Metal Oxides Macias, M.; Chacko, A.; Balkus, Jr., K.J., Micropor. Mesopor. Mater . 2005, 86, 1-13.

Fabrication of TiO 2 nanofibers from a mesoporous silica film Xiong, C.; Balkus, Jr., K.J., Chem. Mater. 2005, 17, ASAP

Synthesis of Molecular Sieve DAM-1 Encapsulated Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes. Coutinho, D.; Munoz, E.; Dalton, A.; Zhakidov, A.; Balkus, Jr., K.J. Micropor. Mesopor. Mater., 2004, 67, 61-65

Electrospun Mesoporus Titanium Dioxide Fibers. Madhugiri, S.; Sun; B.; Smirniotis, P..; Ferraris J.P.; Balkus, Jr., K.J., Micropor. Mesopor. Mater. 2004, 69, 77-83.

Recrystallization of layered Silicates to Silicalite-1. Feng, F.; Balkus, Jr., K.J. Micropor. Mesopor. Mater., 2004, 69, 85-96.

Carbon Nanotubes Synthesized in Zeolites UTD-1, UTD-18 and UTD-12. Deng, S.; Dalton, A.; Terasaki, O.; Balkus, Jr., K.J., Proc. 14th Int. Zeolite Conf. 2004, 903-910

Electrospun Molecular Sieve Fibers and Composites. Balkus, Jr., K.J.; Madhugiri, S.; Macias, M.; Chacko, A.; Khanam, N.; Ferraris, J.P. Proc. 14th Int. Zeolite Conf 2004,416-423

Methane facilitated transport using copper (II) biphenyl dicarboxylate-triethylenediamine poly(3-acetoxyethylthiophene) mixed matrix membranes. Yehia, H.; Pisklak, T. J.; Ferraris, J.P.; Balkus, K. J., Jr.; Musselman, I. H.. Polymer Preprints  2004  45(1),  35-36.

Pulsed laser Deposition of Mordenite Membranes and Films. Pisklak, T.J.; Balkus, Jr., K.J., J. Por. Mater., 2004, 11, 191-209.

Synthesis and Characterization of Organosilane Functionalized DAM-1 Mesoporous Silica. Coutinho, D.; Madhugiri, S.; Balkus, Jr., K.J., J. Por. Mater., 2004, 11, 239-254.

Proton Conducting Polyaniline Composites. Coutinho, D.; Yang, Z.; Feng, F.; Ferraris, J.P.; Balkus, Jr.,, K.J., , Prepr. Pap.-Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Fuel Chem. 2004, 4, 524-525

Novel Inorganic/Organic Hybrid electrolyte membranes. Yang, Z.; Coutinho, D.; Feng, F.; Ferraris, J.P.; Balkus, Jr.,, K.J., , Prepr. Pap.-Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Fuel Chem. 2004, 49, 599-600

Synthesis of proton conducting tungstosilicate mesoporous materials (WMM) and organic/WMM composite membranes for high temperature PEM fuel cells. Feng, F.; Coutinho, D.; Yang, Z.; Ferraris, J.P.; Balkus, Jr.,, K.J., , Prepr. Pap.-Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Fuel Chem. 2004, 49(2), 621