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Polymer Program Title

Fotios Papadimitrakopoulos

Professor of Chemistry
Associate Director, Institute of Materials Science

Education

Ph.D. University of Massachusetts, Amherst
M.S. University of Massachusetts, Amherst
B.S. University of Athens, Greece

Contact Information

Phone: (860) 486-3447
Email: papadim@mail.ims.uconn.edu
Website: http://www.ims.uconn.edu/~papadim/

Research Interests

The research effort of my group includes a wide range of materials and devices in the area of nano-bio-systems. Much of our expertise is concentrated at the supramolecular assembly of man-made artificial nanostructures and their unique interactions with biological entities (such as proteins, DNA and biocompatible polymers). These endeavors span into the following areas:

Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes (SWNTs):

The metallic (met-) vs. semiconducting (sem-) nature of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) has attracted considerable attention from the scientific community. Our group was the first to report that using wet chemistry one can separate and/or enrich fractions of SWNTs according to type (or otherwise termed “metallicity”) and diameter. Aside from the immense technological importance of enhancing the structural purity and homogeneity of SWNTs, obtaining well-fractionated samples could also enable us to better characterize and model the effects of diameter and chirality. Our group is working to advance this separation methodology and obtain a better description of the physicochemical properties of solution-dispersed SWNTs.

Separated SWNTs are poised to enhance considerably the properties of nanostructured devices. Building on our initial finding of self-assembled SWNT forest arrays, a number of enzymatic electrochemical biosensors have been developed in collaboration with Prof. Rusling’s group. More recently, we have been able to demonstrate SWNT forest-based electrochemical immunoassays with sensitivity exceeding that of traditional ELISA. Patterning of these SWNTs forest arrays at the nanometer level is currently used to produce nanosized needles that could electrochemically interface with living bacteria and cells, without disturbing their normal physciology (in collaboration with Professors Marcus, Rusling, Noll and Huey).

Semiconductor Nanocrystals (NCs):

Over the past ten years, our group has investigated two classes of semiconductor NCs: (a) Si-based quantum dots (QDs) for the fabrication of high refractive index (as high as 3.4) transparent nanocomposites, and (b) CdSe-based II-VI QDs and quantum rods for a number of optoelectronic and biomarker related applications. More recently, our group has been developing selective faceting methodologies for CdSe NCs, which are vitally needed in order to selectively control their interactions with a variety of biomolecules.

DNA-assisted solid freeform fabrication manufacture of photonic crystals:

The ability of DNA oligomers to selective bind and recognize their complementary stands is currently used for the fabrication and immobilization of 2-dimensional photonic crystals of monodispersed colloidal microspheres. In collaboration with Prof. Marcus our groups have demonstrated selective insertion or defects at predetermined positions of these 2-D photonics crystals.

Totally implantable wireless glucose sensors:

Real time monitoring of various metabolic analytes that control function and physiology of the human body is crucially needed for a variety of applications and especially for diabetic patients in everyday life. Our group, in collaboration with the groups of Professors Burgess and Jain, has been developing wireless, totally implantable glucosensors that exhibit significant size reduction, increased bio-acceptability and suppression of inflammation. Significant effort is exerted to identify the various failure mechanisms and improve upon both sin-vitro and in-vivo device stability.

Recent Publications

  1. D. Chattopadhyay; I. Galeska; F. Papadimitrakopoulos "A Route for Bulk Separation of Semiconducting from Metallic Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes" J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125(11), 3370-3375.
  2. X. Yu; D. Chattopadhyay; I. Galeska; F. Papadimitrakopoulos; J. F. Rusling "Peroxidase Activity of Enzymes Bound to the Ends of Single Wall Carbon Nanotube Forrest", Electrochemisty Communications, 2003, 5, 408-411.
  3. M. Nandagopal; M. Mathai; F. Papadimitrakopoulos; M. Utz, "Characterization of Isomers in Solid Aluminum tris-(Quinoline-8-olate) by 27Al NMR", Mater. Res. Soc. Sympos. Proc. 2003, 771, 267-272.
  4. X. Yu; G. A. Sotzing; F. Papadimitrakopoulos; J. F. Rusling, "Wiring of Enzymes to Electrodes by Ultrathin Conductive Polyion Underlayers: Enhanced Catalytic Response to Hydrogen Peroxide", Anal. Chem., 2003, 75(17), 4565-4571.
  5. D. Kang; J. Lee; F. Papadimitrakopoulos; M. Aindow, "Assembly of CdSe Nanocrystals into Well-Ordered Monolayers with Strong Crystallographic Texture", Philosophical Magazine Letters 2003, 83(9), 569-574.
  6. J. Mwaura; B. Yang; M. Morton; F. Papadimitrakopoulos, "Photo-Cleavage of Pyridyl-Based Aromatic Polyureas" Macromolecules, 2003, 36(26) 9775-9783.
  7. J. N. Barisci; G. G. Wallace; D. Chattopadhyay; F. Papadimitrakopoulos, R. H. Baughman, " Electrochemical Properties of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube Electrodes", Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 2003, 150(9) E409-E415.
  8. J. Mwaura; M. K. Mathai; C. Chen; F. Papadimitrakopoulos, "Light emitting diodes prepared from Terbium- immobilized Polyurea Chelates", J. Macrom. Sci. Part A—Pure and Appl. Chem. 2003, A4 (12) 1253-1262.
  9. M. Utz; M. Nandagopal; M. Mathai; F. Papadimitrakopoulos, "Characterization of Isomers In Aluminum tris(quinioline-8-olate) by one-dimensional 27Al NMR under Magic Angle Spinning", Appl. Phys. Lett., 2003, 83(19), 4023-4025.
  10. X. Yu; D. Chattopadhyay; I. Galeska; F. Papadimitrakopoulos; J. F. Rusling, "Peroxidase Activity of Enzymes Bound to the Ends of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube Forest Electrodes" Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering 2003, 89 77-78
  11. R. Li; J. Lee; F. Papadimitrakopoulos, "N-alkylamine Organization and Etching Behavior on CdSe Nanocrystals (Qdots)" Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering 2003, 89, 339.
  12. J. Lee; B. Yang; R. Li; F. Papadimitrakopoulos, "Water-Soluble Poly(Allyl Amine) Encapsulated Cadmium Selenide Nanocrystals", Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering 2003, 89, 337.
  13. S. N. Kim; D. Chattopadhyay; D. Svobodova; F. Papadimitrakopoulos, "Domain Control in Single Wall Carbon Nanotube Forest Assembly" Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering 2003, 89, 336.
  14. D. Chattopadhyay; I. Galeska; S. N. Kim; F. Papadimitrakopoulos, "Bulk Separation of Metallic from Semiconducting Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes" Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering 2003, 89, 203.
  15. S. Kim; B. Yang, S. Hou, F. Papadimitrakopoulos, "DNA-Assisted 2D Photonic Crystal Fabrication" Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering 2003, 89, 129.
  16. R. C. Haddon, J. Sippel, A. G. Rinzler, F. Papadimitrakopoulos, "Purification and Separation of Carbon Nanotubes", Materials Research Society Bulletin, April 2004, 252-259.
  17. E. Geiss, S. Hou, B. Yang, H. Marcus, F. Papadimitrakopoulos, "Influence of Particle Size on Defects in 2-D Colloidal Photonic Crystal Arrays", TMS (The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society), 2004, Materials Processing and Manufacturing Division, 5th Global Symposium.Surfaces and Interfaces in Nanostructured Materials and Trends, in LIGA, Miniaturization and Nanoscale Materials Proceedings, 213-220.