PhD in Materials Science and Engineering - Polymers and Biomaterials in Troy United States | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Polymers offer exceptional versatility in crafting chemical and nanoscale architectures to unlock groundbreaking capabilities for mechanical, chemical, optoelectronic, and biological uses. At Rensselaer, polymer studies push the boundaries of functionality through nanocomposites with inorganic nanoparticles, bio-inspired chemistry for antimicrobial effects and biofilm elimination, and fluorophore integration for advanced imaging and lithography below wavelength scales.

Incorporating nanoparticles into polymers can radically transform the characteristics of nanocomposite materials, where properties heavily depend on nanoparticle distribution. Rensselaer's research focuses on developing nanocomposites tailored for mechanical, electrical, and optical purposes, managing nanoparticle dispersion and polymer structure through methods like supercritical fluids for porosity adjustment and plasmonic nanoparticle photothermal effects for precise thermal treatment. The intricate interplay between nanostructures and biological systems also opens doors for medical nanotechnology applications.

Artificial polymers can emulate natural design strategies to achieve unprecedented traits, particularly in biological interactions. Precision polymerization techniques may enable peptide-like polymers that target bacterial cells, bacteria-responsive gelling polymers for detection, and self-destructing polymers that break down to remove biofilms. Embedding fluorescent markers in polymers allows super-resolution microscopy via stimulated emission depletion (STED), surpassing traditional wavelength limits. When combined with photoresist chemistry and laser interference patterns, these approaches could also enable mass production of periodic nanostructures for applications like light capture, sensing, and photodetection.