Doctoral student to present polymer research at American Chemical Society meeting

9:45 a.m., Dec. 18, 2012--University of Delaware graduate student Jiahua Zhu will present his novel polymer research at the American Chemical Society national meeting in New Orleans in April.

Zhu, who earned his undergraduate degree at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, is a fifth year doctoral student studying materials science and engineering at UD. His research involves developing advanced assembly strategies for nanoscale polymers using molecular design and kinetics.

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Following the rules in nature, Zhu is blending various polymer molecules to create nano-scale objects that have seldom been observed in nature. 

By integrating multiple components and geometries, he says hopes to create multi-functional hybrid nanostructures that that work together, but also retain their personal characteristics. 

Ultimately, Zhu hopes these new materials will be applied to address major societal concerns in energy and medicine.

Darrin Pochan, Zhu’s faculty adviser, applauded Zhu’s synergistic collaboration with researchers at UD and at Texas A&M University to create what he calls “new and fascinating nanomaterials.”

“This well-deserved honor is the result of Jiahua’s hard work and creativity in the laboratory,” commented Pochan, professor of material science and engineering. 

Pochan continued, saying, “This work would not be possible without UD’s strong core facilities, such as the Keck electron microscopy lab in the College of Engineering, the support of which provides opportunity [for faculty and students alike] to create and understand future technology.” 

Zhu will present his doctoral work, entitled "Multigeometry Nanoparticle and Multicompartment Superstructure Construction from Block Copolymers – Molecular Design, Assembly Hierarchy, and Kinetics," at the Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research Symposium of the ACS Polymer Chemistry Division (POLY) in New Orleans, April 7-11, 2013.

Article by Karen B. Roberts

Photo by Kathy F. Atkinson