Purdue University School of Chemical Engineering Graduate seminar series Prof. Paschalis Alexandridis Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering University of Buffalo, New York "Nanostructured Polymers and Solvents: Opportunities in Health, Environment, and Energy Applications" September 17, 2013 9:00-10:15 a.m. FRNY G140 Reception at 8:30 a.m. in Henson Atrium Abstract: Block copolymers present model systems that nicely connect chemistry, physics, and engineering. The addition of selective solvents may disrupt certain types of polymer organization but can promote others. This provides valuable degrees of freedom for controlling the morphology and, hence, structure/property relationships, and can dramatically affect the local mobility. The presentation will highlight the interplay between fundamentals of block copolymer self-assembly in selective solvents and their applications in the (a) structuring of waterborne complex fluids with properties tailored for pharmaceutics, (b) environmentally benign synthesis of nanoparticles in a size- and shape-controlled manner, and (c) formulation of ionogels as potential electrolytes for lithium batteries, fuel cells, or dye-sensitized solar cells. Bio: Paschalis Alexandridis is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo (UB), The State University of New York (SUNY). He is the founding co-director of the Materials Science and Engineering program, and has served as Acting Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education in UB's School of Engineering. Prof. Alexandridis' research utilizes molecular interactions and supramolecular assemblies to develop products with desired properties and function. Ongoing projects address ionic liquids for structuring, polymer electrolytes, cellulose dissolution, nanocomposites, and dispersants. He has authored over 130 journal articles (cited 8000 times) and is coinventor of 10 patents. Prof. Alexandridis is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2012), and the recipient of the American Chemical Society Schoellkopf Medal (2010), Bodossaki Foundation Academic Prize in Applied Science (2005), and SUNY Chancellor's Awards for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activity (2011) and in Teaching (2006). .