REU: Research Experiences for Undergraduates and Teachers in Functional and Nanostructured Materials

Carlos Rinaldi, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, DMR 0552673

Thirteen students from the US and Puerto Rico spent eight weeks at UPRM as part of the 2007 REU Program in Functional and Nanostructured Materials at the UPRM. The student’s research projects studied the synthesis and characterization of functional nanomaterials such as magnetic and semiconductor nanoparticles, nanoporous materials, and nanocomposites. In addition, two Middle School teachers spent four weeks working on individual research projects and developing educational modules suitable for their classrooms.

In addition to carrying out independent research under the direct supervision of the faculty mentors, a series of educational seminars provided training on responsible conduct and dissemination of research. Weekend activities exposed the participants to the unique Hispanic-American historical and cultural environment of Puerto Rico and provided the students with opportunities to learn Spanish as a second language.

The site was supported by NSF REU program and the Department of Defense ASSURE program, and is part of the NSF funded Partnership for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) Program at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez (DMR-0351449).

Left to Right: Angel D. Cortés, Veronica Díaz, Carmelo Declet, Nicole Hernández, Kendall Williamson, Markelle W. Gibbs, Hannah Peters, Dominick Bindl, Laurène Dykiel, Cicily Smith, Ranulfo Allen, Sonia Aviles, and Michael C. Hara

REU: Research Experiences for Undergraduates and Teachers in Functional and Nanostructured Materials

Carlos Rinaldi, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, DMR 0552673Summer 2007 Participating Students

*Student was supported through other NSF grant, but participated in all REU activities.

Name Gender Ethnicity College Level Home Institution

Ranulfo D. Allen M African American Junior Princeton

Sonia L. Aviles F Puerto Rican Junior UPR-Mayaguez

Dominick J. Bindl M Caucasian Junior Univ. of Minnesota

Angel D. Cortés-Morales M Puerto Rican Junior UPR-Mayaguez

Carmelo Declet-Perez* M Puerto Rican Junior UPR-Mayaguez

Laurene Dykiel F Caucasian Sophomore Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst

Miguel A. Estremera M Puerto Rican Junior UPR-Mayaguez

Michael C. Hara M Pacific Islander Sophomore California Polytechnic, Pomona

Markelle L. Gibbs M African American Junior Univ. of Pittsburg

Hannah L. Peters F Caucasian Sophomore Agnes Scott College

Veronica Díaz-Rodríguez F Puerto Rican Junior UPR-Rio Piedras

Cicily L. Smith F African American Junior Austin College

Kendall M. Williamson F Caucasian Sophomore Univ. of South Carolina

Seven male and six female students. Eight students from underrepresented ethnic groups.Four sophomores and nine juniors.

REU: Research Experiences for Undergraduates and Teachers in Functional and Nanostructured Materials

Carlos Rinaldi, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, DMR 0552673

Magnetite nanoparticles

37 °C

~46 °C

Synthesis and Characterization of Dextran and pNIPAAM Coated Magnetic NanoparticlesVeronica Díaz, Laurène Dykiel, Prof. Madeline Torres-Lugo, and Prof. Carlos Rinaldi

REU students Veronica Díaz and Laurène Dykiel synthesized magnetite nanoparticles for testing in magnetic fluid hyperthermia, an experimental form of cancer treatment. Veronica optimized synthesis conditions for coating the magnetic particles with the polysaccharide dextran, whereas Laurene synthesized particles coated with the thermoresponsive polymer pNIPAAM.

Both students learned techniques in nanoparticle synthesis and characterization, including FTIR, SQUID magnetometry, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential measurements.

This project is part of NSF sponsored research, through award CBET-0609117 “NIRT: Magnetically and Thermally Active Nanoparticles for Cancer Treatment”

REU: Research Experiences for Undergraduates and Teachers in Functional and Nanostructured Materials (DMR-0552673)

Titanium Silicate Based Nanostructured Materials: The Quest for Selective and High Adsorption Capacity Flexible Frameworks Kendall Williamson and Prof. Arturo J. Hernández-Maldonado

REU student Kendall Williamson synthesized a novel titanium silicate nanoporous material (UPRM-4) using a structure directing agent (SDA). She was able to study the effect of Si/Ti and SDA/Ti ratios on the final framework properties. For example, increasing the Si/Ti ratio proves to be detrimental to the crystalline structure, resulting in an amorphous material. However, increasing the Si/Ti ratio results in a material that is very crystalline, flexible, and stable under high temperatures. The latter case is suitable for applications involving the separation of light gases with similar molecular dimensions and properties.

Kendall learned techniques in characterization, including in situ DSC-XRD, SEM, FTIR, TGA and porosimetry measurements.

SEM images of UPRM-4, a nanoporous material with flexible framework and ultra-large pore volume. Source: K. Williamson and A.J. Hernández-MAldonado, unpublished data, 2007.

REU: Research Experiences for Undergraduates and Teachers in Functional and Nanostructured Materials (DMR-0552673)

Water Treatment via Adsorption Techniques / Development of Adsorption Based Educational Modules Mrs. Lucille Oliver and Prof. Arturo J. Hernández-Maldonado

RET teacher Mrs. Lucille Oliver performed experiments for the removal of chlofibric acid from water using functionalized mesoporous silicate materials. In addition, she spent time developing a K-12 adsorption demonstration experiment / module. The module consisted of using activated carbon sorbents to remove dyes from water. Recovery of the treated aqueous phase, for instance, was accomplished using a simple coffee maker filter paper.

K-12 teacher, Mrs. Lucille Oliver, developing a visual and educational experiment about adsorption of aqueous dyes using activated carbon.

REU: Research Experiences for Undergraduates and Teachers in Functional and Nanostructured Materials (DMR-0552673)

As-cast AA 7075 aluminum alloy without nanoinoculation.

AA 7075 aluminum alloy inoculated with nanosized AlB2 particles, showing a much finer grain structure.

Connecting the Dots: Enhancing Structural Materials from the NanoscaleCicily Smith and Prof. O. Marcelo Suárez

Although the realm of nanostructured materials appears to be limited to a few nanometer scale, we have demonstrated that they can help enhance structural materials. By high-energy ball milling we were able to nanosize hard ceramic particles (AlB2, NbB2. HfB2) embedded in an aluminum matrix.

The material was used to inoculate commercial aluminum alloys, i.e. AA 6061 and AA7075, normally used in aerospace and transportation structures. The resulting nano-inoculated alloy showed a finer microstructure, which leads to improved mechanical properties, i.e. higher strength and better corrosion resistance.

This project is part of NSF sponsored research, through award DMR-0351449 “PREM: Partnership for Research and Education in Functional and Nanostructured Materials at the UPRM”

Nanosized AlB2 particles embedded in an aluminum matrix (gray phase), prepared by high energy ball milling.

REU: Research Experiences for Undergraduates and Teachers in Functional and Nanostructured Materials (DMR-0552673)

Heat source

Cold fluidPermanent magnets

Illustration of the magnetocaloric pump

Normal field instability of a ferrofluid

Development of a Ferrofluid Based Magnetocaloric PumpAngel D. Cortés and Prof. Gustavo Gutierrez

REU student Angel D. Cortes synthesized MnZn ferrite nanoparticles for use in a prototype magnetocaloric pump. The pump action results from the higher affinity of cold ferrofluid to regions of high magnetic field, resulting in displacement of the warmer ferrofluid.

Angel learned techniques in nanoparticle synthesis and characterization, including SQUID magnetometry and dynamic light scattering measurements of the particle hydrodynamic radius.

This project is part of DoD sponsored research, through award 50797-RT-ISP “Magnetocaloric Effect Using a Magnetic Monodisperse Nanofluid with Low Curie Temperature for Electronic Cooling Applications”

REU: Research Experiences for Undergraduates and Teachers in Functional and Nanostructured Materials

Carlos Rinaldi, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, DMR 0552673

REU Students Have Fun in the Sun, Learn to SCUBA Dive

What can be better than spending a summer involved in state of the art research in the tropical setting of an island paradise? In addition to working hard on their research projects, UPRM REU students spent their weekends hiking in the El Yunque National Rain Forest, exploring colonial Old San Juan, and enjoying the beautiful beaches of Puerto Rico. Some of the students even took the opportunity to become certified open water divers!

Left to right: Veronica Díaz, Angel D. Cortés, Eunice Mercado, Milton Rivera, Kendall Williamson, Dominick Bindl, Laurène Dykiel, Hannah Peters, Ranulfo Allen, Darlene Santiago, Markelle Gibbs, and Cicily Smith