The properties of most materials, such as their ability to emit light or bind to specific molecules, change dramatically when they are shrunk from the macro-scale down to the nano-scale (1 nanometer = 1 billionth of a meter). Sometimes, we can even stabilize materials at the nanoscale in structures that cannot be formed in larger “bulk” samples. Here at UF, we create nanomaterials with unique structures and properties that allow us to engineer new solutions to current challenges in biomedicine, electronics, energy storage, and catalysis.
Faculty
Ph.D., 2012, Texas A&M University
Research Interests: Nuclear Fuels and Materials, with emphasis on characterization and property evaluation; Mechanical and Thermal properties of materials; Reactor Irradiation; Radiation damage in materials; Ion Implantation; Kinetics; Composites; Nanostructured materials; Multi-Scale simulation of nuclear fuel.
Lab Website: MAterials for Nuclear Advancement and Technology in Extreme Environments (MANATEE) Group
Ph.D., 2008, University of California, Santa Barbara
Research Interests: nanomaterials, nanocomposites for electronic and biomedical applications, magnetic materials, multiferroics, polymers
Lab Website: Andrew Research Group
Yijia Gu, Ph.D., received his doctorate in materials science and engineering from the Pennsylvania State University in 2014. Prior to joining UF, he served as a faculty member at Missouri University of Science and Technology for six years. He also held positions as Senior and Staff Engineer at Alcoa Technical Center (now Arconic Technology Center), where he led projects in computational alloy design and process optimization.…
Ph.D., 2000, Washington University in St. Louis
Research interests: Computational materials science, ab-initio methods, structure prediction algorithms, two-dimensional materials, materials for energy technologies, solid-liquid interfaces
Lab Website: Hennig Materials Theory Lab
Ph.D., 2020, University of Michigan
Research Interests: Polymer Synthesis, Hydrogels, Drug Delivery, Bioprinting, Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine