Research focus in the materials and nanotechnology area is primarily driven by the design of novel materials at the molecular level to achieve characteristic properties that can be targeted towards specific technologies. Within this broad umbrella, current research efforts span from biological and biomimetic materials, to organic and polymeric materials, inorganic nanocrystals, nanofibers, nanocomposites, and nanoporous materials. These materials are being utilized for diverse applications in diagnostics and therapeutics, energy and environment, and coatings and lubrication.
Research within this area is highly interdisciplinary, and we collaborate with researchers from other engineering disciplines, pure sciences, and the medical school. Additionally, all of our faculty and students within these research areas are associated with the Vanderbilt Institute for Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE), as well as other centers and institutes providing access to state-of-the art instrumentation and resources.
