Jordan Brito, Parin Purvin Shah, and Aliaksei Aliakseyeu’s paper titled “Effect of polyacid architecture and polycation molecular weight on lateral diffusion within multilayer films” was recently published in the Journal of Chemical Physics.

In this work, we investigated the lateral and perpendicular diffusion of linear and star polyacids (i.e., linear and 8-arm PMAA) within layer-by-layer films. The linear and star polyacids were partnered with short, medium, and long molecular weight PDADMAC to also compare the effect of polycation molecular weight on the diffusion of the polyacids. The article is now available to read online.

Congratulations, Jordan, Parin, and Aliaksei!

PhD candidate Kartik won joint 3rd place in the MSEN Materials Expo 2023 poster competition for the poster titled “Diels-Alder Salogels for Shape Stabilization of Inorganic Salt Hydrate Phase Change Materials”. The MSEN Materials Expo 2023 was held in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the TAMU MSEN department.

Congratulations, Kartik!

Master’s student Parin Purvin Shah was one of two recipients of the SPE-Henry Kahn Scholarship, sponsored by The Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE). It was awarded during the Polymer Technology Constoria (PTC) in Fall 2023. This scholarship recognizes undergraduate and graduate students in the polymers field who demonstrate excellence both in academics and research.

Congratulations, Parin!

Aliaksei Aliakseyeu’s paper titled “Salt-Induced Diffusion of Star and Linear Polyelectrolytes within Multilayer Films” was recently published in Macromolecules

In this work, Aliaksei studied the effect of salt on the diffusivity of polyelectrolytes of varied molecular architecture in layer-by-layer (LbL) films in directions parallel and perpendicular to the substrate. The article is now available to read online.

Congratulations, Aliaksei!

Many congratulations to Aliaksei Aliakseyeu for successfully defending his dissertation!

Dr. Aliakseyeu earned his degree based on his dissertation titled “Star Polymers in Solution and in Multilayer Assemblies”. This dissertation also won the “Best Thesis” in the 2023 MSEN Awards.

Ph.D. candidate Zhen Sang passed his preliminary exam this Monday. Congrats on completing the next step to your Ph.D., Zhen!

Jordan Brito’s research with collaborators at the University of Maryland and Stevens Institute of Technology was recently accepted to Biomacromolecules!

The article, titled “4-Methylumbelliferone-Functionalized Polyphosphazene and Its Assembly into Biocompatible Fluorinated Nanocoatings with Selective Antiproliferative Activity”, is now available to read online.

Well done, Jordan & collaborators!

PhD student Jordan Brito got some practice teaching during one of the MSEN 489/689 lectures (Techniques for Polymer and Soft Matter Characterization). She gave a lecture on ATR-FTIR to the classroom of undergraduate and graduate students. She will also hold an in-person demo to show the benefits and limitations of the technique.

This valuable experience will help prepare her for a career in academia!

Ardak Makhatova and Junho Moon both passed their Ph.D. qualifying exams. Congratulations to the (official) Ph.D. students!