Levich Institute Seminar Announcement, 02/08/2005

Tuesday, 02/08/2005 2:00 PM Steinman Hall, Room #312 (Chemical Engineering Conference Room) Professor David Pine University of California, Santa Barbara Chemical Engineering Department [Relocating to NYU, Department of Physics and Soft Matter Research in 2005] "Colloidal Atoms and Molecules: New Building Blocks for Self Assembly" [This is a CCNY/Columbia NSF-IGERT Soft Materials seminar]

ABSTRACT
I describe methods developed in our laboratory to make clusters of colloidal particles with very well-defined symmetries: dipolar, tetrahedral, octahedral, icosahedral, as well as more exotic clusters with more complex symmetries. In addition, we show how these clusters can be used to create new nearly spherical colloidal particles with directional interactions that promote the growth of crystals or glasses with these same local symmetries. These clusters can be thought of as "colloidal atoms" with directional bonding properties akin to sulfur or carbon and as such provide a fascinating new class of colloids with which to explore and exploit new self-assembly motifs.

BRIEF ACADEMIC/EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

• New York University, Professor of Physics 2005-present
• University of California, Santa Barbara, Chair, Dept. of Chemical Engineering 2001-2004
• Professor of Chemical Engineering 1995-2005
• Professor of Materials 1995-2005
• Exxon Research & Engineering Staff Physicist 1990-1995
• Haverford College Assistant Professor of Physics 1984-1989
• University of Pittsburgh Postdoctoral Research Associate 1982-1984

CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS

My research interests encompass the structural, rheological, and optical properties of complex fluids, including colloidal and noncolloidal particle suspensions, emulsions, surfactant solutions, and polymer solutions. Current projects include the development of photonic crystals using emulsion and colloidal templating techniques, the development and study of colloids with non-spherically symmetric potentials, shear thickening in surfactant solutions, rheology and jamming of dense suspensions, and the development of nano- and macroporous materials for catalytic and optical applications. There is also ongoing activity in the development of new optical probes of these materials, including diffusing-wave spectroscopy, light scattering microscopy, and light scattering from sheared fluids.