How to Apply
Interested in participating in this research project? Contact the professor or graduate student listed below.
Professor
Dr. Tianbo Liu (Polymer Science) | tliu@uakron.edu
Graduate Student
Jiahui Chen | jc186@zips.uakron.edu
Project Description
Hydrogel, conventionally defined as networks held up by cross-links and entrapping solvent in intermolecular spaces, has been widely used in clinic trials. Understanding the formation mechanism will be helpful to develop new materials. Example of hydrogels and their formation driving forces include hydrophilic polymers (entanglement), surfactants (hydrophobic interactions), colloids (depletion force), trans-metal hydroxides (chemical bonds), etc. Recently, we found that without the interactions listed above, some hydrophilic macroions, including polyoxometalates and metal-organic nanocages, can gelatinate in dilute solution. The critical formation concentration, temperature/salt respose, morphology, mechanical properties, and formation driving force of the gel will be studied. This study may expand the current theories about hydrogels, and develop new method to fabricate hydrogel.
Project Date
Spring 2020
Search Terms
Advanced Materials, STEM