Georgia Tech Chemistry and Chemical Engineering News

Mostafa El-Sayed Bestowed Honor from the Chinese Chemical Society

Shirley Tomes — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Honorary Fellow of the Chinese Chemical Society bestowed on Prof. Mostafa El-Sayed. He has been invited to China to receive his award.

Phil Sharp Presentation Available for Viewing in GT's Repository

Colly Mitchell — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Phil Sharp, IBB Distinguished Lecturer, gives talk entitled, "The Biology and Therapeutic Promise of Small RNAs" which can be viewed in GT's Institutional Repository

Scientists Unlock Optical & Chemical Secrets of Jeweled Beetles

John Toon — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

A small green beetle may have some interesting lessons to teach scientists about optics and liquid crystals -- complex mechanisms the insect uses to create a shell so strikingly beautiful that for centuries it was used in jewelry.

Mostafa El-Sayed Wins Ahmed Zewail Prize in Molecular Sciences

David Terraso — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Mostafa El-Sayed Wins Ahmed Zewail Prize in Molecular Sciences for his seminal contributions to the understanding of the electronic and molecular dynamics and properties of systems with different length scales, ranging from molecules to nanoparticles to biomedical systems.

Advanced-Flow Reactor Aids Chemical Synthesis Research

Lisa Grovenstein — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Georgia Institute of Technology Professors Charles L. Liotta and Charles A. Eckert will begin working with Corning’s Advanced-Flow™ glass reactor in their chemistry research programs.

New Technique Analyzes Seaweed Chemical Defenses

John Toon — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

A new analytical technique is helping scientists learn how organisms as simple as seaweed can mount complex chemical defenses to protect themselves from microbial threats such as fungus.

Self-Cleaning, Low-Reflectivity Surface Could Improve PV Cells

John Toon — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Using two different types of chemical etching to create features at both the micron and nanometer size scales, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Tecnology have developed a surface treatment that could boost the light absorption of silicon photovoltaic cells in two complementary ways.

Researchers Develop Flow Sensors Based on Blind Fish Hair Structures

Abby Vogel — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The fish species Astyanax fasciatus cannot see, but their unique technique for sensing the movement of water around them with gel-covered hairs that extend from their bodies may inspire a new generation of sensors that perform better than active sonar.

Researchers Identify Genes for Thiostrepton, a Powerful Antibiotic

John Toon — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Researchers have identified the genetic machinery responsible for synthesizing thiostrepton, a powerful antibiotic produced by certain bacteria. The drug is effective against the dangerous MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci.

AAAS and Georgia Tech Announce 2008 Fellows

Don Fernandez — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

Three Georgia Tech professors have received the award of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow for 2008. Election as a Fellow is an honor bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers.

New Class of Fluorescent Dyes Detects Reactive Oxygen Species

Abby Vogel — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

Researchers have created a new family of fluorescent probes called hydrocyanines that can be used to detect and measure the presence of reactive oxygen species -- superoxide and the hydroxide radical -- in cells, tissue and, for the first time, in vivo.

Georgia Tech Professor Receives Postdoctoral Award

Don Fernandez — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation has announced Dr. Christopher W. Jones of the Georgia Institute of Technology as one of eight honorees to the 2008 Postdoctoral Program in Environmental Chemistry.

Urban Sustainability Leader Joins Georgia Tech

Don Fernandez — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

John C. Crittenden, Ph.D., an accomplished expert in waste management, pollution prevention and sustainable and environmental engineering, will join the Georgia Institute of Technology as a Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) Eminent Scholar in Sustainable Systems. He is also slated to fill the Hightower Chair in Sustainable Systems pending Board of Regents approval.

National Chemistry Week Observed October 19-25

David Terraso — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Georgia Tech joins the American Chemical Society as it celebrates National Chemistry Week 2008 the week of October 19-25.

Georgia Tech Creates Center for Bio-Imaging Mass Spectrometry

Abby Vogel — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Georgia Tech

Prosthetic Vein Valve Designed to Improve Venous Blood Flow

Abby Vogel — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a prosthetic vein valve to help improve the lives of those suffering from a condition known as chronic venous insufficiency. The valve was designed to replace damaged, non-functioning valves.

Mostafa El-Sayed Wins 2007 Medal of Science

David Terraso — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Mostafa El-Sayed, Regents Professor in Georgia Tech

Biodegradable Polymers May Improve Treatment of Inflammatory Diseases

Abby Vogel — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Biodegradable polymers called polyketals and their derivatives may improve treatment for such inflammatory illnesses as acute liver failure and inflammatory bowel disease by delivering drugs, proteins and enzymes to disease locations in the body.

Using Magnetic Nanoparticles to Combat Cancer

David Terraso — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Scientists at Georgia Tech have developed a potential new treatment against cancer that attaches magnetic nanoparticles to cancer cells, allowing them to be captured and carried out of the body. The treatment, which has been tested in the laboratory and will now be looked at in survival studies, is detailed online in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Study Reveals Principles Behind Gold Nanocluster Stability

Abby Vogel — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT

A report published in the July 8 issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) is the first to describe the principles behind the stability and electronic properties of tiny nanoclusters of metallic gold.

Research Reveals Factors That Affect Organic-based Device Efficiency

Abby Vogel — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Organic-based devices, such as organic light-emitting diodes, require a transparent conductive layer with a high work function, meaning it promotes injection of electron holes into an organic layer to produce more light. New research provides insight into factors that influence the injection efficiency.

Ragauskas Named to Fulbright Chair

Robert Nesmith — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The Fulbright Program named Professor Arthur J. Ragauskas the first recipient of the newly created Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Alternative Energy Technology, located at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden.

New Titanium Coating Improves Joint Replacements

Abby Vogel — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Research at the Georgia Institute of Technology shows that coating a titanium implant with a new biologically inspired material enhances tissue healing, improves bone growth around the implant and strengthens the attachment and integration of the implant to the bone.

Automated Microfluidic Device Reduces Time to Screen Small Organisms

Abby Vogel — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Genetic studies on small organisms such as worms and flies can now be done more quickly using a new microfluidic device developed by engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The microchip automatically positions, images and sorts small organisms.

New Technique Measures Ultrashort Laser Pulses at Focus

Abby Vogel — Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Researchers have developed a system that measures aberrations caused by ultrashort laser pulses passing through lenses or other instrumentation. Knowing how the light is distorted allows researchers to correct for the aberrations.

Fast AFM Probes Measure Many Biomolecule or Material Properties

Abby Vogel — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Researchers have developed novel atomic force microscopy (AFM) probes that can quickly and simultaneously measure biomolecule or material properties including adhesion, stiffness, elasticity and viscosity, in addition to the standard AFM topography scan.

Low-cost Reusable Material Could Facilitate Carbon Dioxide Capture

John Toon — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST

Researchers have developed a new, low-cost material for capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the smokestacks of coal-fired power plants and other generators of the greenhouse gas. Produced with a simple one-step chemical process, the new material has a high capacity for absorbing carbon dioxide

Georgia Tech Researchers Help Shut Down Drug Counterfeiters

John Toon — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

Georgia Institute of Technology researchers were part of a three-continent, multi-organizational effort known as

Carbon Capture Strategy Could Lead to Emission-Free Cars

Megan McRainey — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a strategy to capture, store and eventually recycle carbon from vehicles. Georgia Tech researchers envision a zero emission car, and a transportation system completely free of fossil fuels.

Copper Connections Created for High-Speed Computing

Abby Vogel — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

Georgia Tech researchers are developing new methods to create more connections between computer chips and external circuitry and better connections that operate at higher frequencies with less loss.

Study Demonstrates Effectiveness of Microneedles

John Toon — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

In what is believed to be the first peer-reviewed human study of its kind, researchers have demonstrated that patches coated on one side with microscopic needles can facilitate transdermal delivery of clinically-relevant doses of a drug that normally cannot pass through the skin.

Biomedical Shape-Memory Polymers Developed

Abby Vogel — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology are developing unique polymers, which change shape upon heating, to open blocked arteries, probe neurons in the brain and engineer a tougher spine.

Explosives on a Chip Improve Military Detonators

John Toon — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EST

Tiny copper structures with pores at both the nanometer and micron size scales could play a key role in the next generation of detonators used to improve the reliability, reduce the size and lower the cost of certain military munitions.

Improving Fuel Cell Durability Starts With Failures

Abby Vogel — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EST

Understanding how and why fuel cells fail is the key to both reducing cost and improving durability, according to researchers in the Georgia Tech Research Institute

High Performance Transistors Created with Carbon 60

John Toon — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EST

Using room-temperature processing, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have fabricated high-performance field effect transistors with thin films of Carbon 60, also known as fullerene.

Equipment Purchased in 1957 Still Going Strong

John Toon — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EST

A 1957 classic sits in the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) clean room. It

New Standard for Sustainable Carpet Announced

Abby Vogel — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EST

A new standard for assessing the environmental-friendliness of carpet will help consumers sort out the complex sustainable attributes and encourage manufacturers and their suppliers to utilize environmentally preferable materials and practices.

Researchers Win $11.5 Million for Vaccine Delivery

John Toon — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Flu vaccine delivered through painless microneedles in patches applied to the skin could soon be an alternative to delivery through hypodermic needles, according to researchers at Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.

New Biosensor Detects Avian Influenza Virus

Abby Vogel — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 00:00:00 EDT

A new biosensor developed by the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) can detect avian influenza in minutes. The biosensor is economical, field-deployable, sensitive to different viral strains and requires no labels or reagents.

Microsensor Measures Water and Air Pollutants

Abby Vogel — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a miniature sensor that uses polymer membranes deposited on a tiny silicon disk to measure pollutants present in aqueous or gaseous environments. An array of these sensors with different surface coatings could be used during field-testing to rapidly detect many different chemicals.

Georgia Tech/Emory Center to Study Origin of Life

David Terraso — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University have received a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to establish "The Origins Project," a center for integrated research, education and public outreach focused on the chemistry that may have led to the origin of life.

Georgia Tech Takes Comprehensive Biofuels Approach

John Toon — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Georgia Tech researchers are taking a comprehensive approach to producing bioethanol: selecting the best plant material, preparing the plants for conversion, breaking down the carbohydrates into simple sugars, fermenting the sugars into alcohol and separating the ethanol from water.

Drawing Nanoscale Features the Fast and Easy Way

David Terraso — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Scientists at Georgia Tech have developed a new technique for nanolithography that is extremely fast and can be used in liquids and outside of a vacuum. The technique could help make the manufacturing of nanocircuits commercially viable.

Jean-Luc Bredas Third Most Cited for OTFTs

David Terraso — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Jean-Luc Bredas is the third most cited author for scientific papers on organic thin-film transistors over the past decade, according to Essential Science Indicators (ESI) Web site, published by Thomson Scientific.

Simpler Radium Test Cuts Analysis Time

John Toon — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 00:00:00 EDT

A simpler technique for testing public drinking water samples for the presence of the radioactive element radium can dramatically reduce the amount of time required to conduct the sampling required by federal regulations.

Researchers Learn to Control Nanotube Dimensions

John Toon — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Moving beyond carbon nanotubes, researchers are developing insights into a remarkable class of tubular metal-oxide nanomaterials that can be produced in water with a high degree of control over their diameter and length.

Nanoparticle Could Help Detect Many Diseases Early

Megan McRainey — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Georgia Tech and Emory University researchers are the first to create a nanoparticle capable of detecting and imaging trace amounts of hydrogen peroxide (thought to be an early indicator of many diseases) in animals. The nanoparticles could some day be used as a simple, all-purpose diagnostic tool to detect the earliest stages of any disease that involves chronic inflammation

Georgia Tech Part of New Biofuel Research Center

Megan McRainey — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Georgia Tech is part of a new research team that has won a bid from the Department of Energy for a $125 million bioenergy research center that will seek new ways to produce biofuels.

Platinum Nanocrystals Boost Catalytic Activity

John Toon — Fri, 04 May 2007 00:00:00 EDT

A research team composed of electrochemists and materials scientists has produced a new form of the industrially-important metal platinum: 24-facet nanocrystals whose catalytic activity per unit area can be as much as four times higher than existing commercial platinum catalysts.

First Solvay-COPE Symposium on Organic Electronics

David Terraso — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Solvay and the Center for Organic Photonics and Electronics (COPE) at Georgia Tech are proud to announce the First Solvay-COPE Symposium on Organic Electronics. The event will be held in Atlanta on May 08, 2007.

New Nanocomposite Process Improves Capacitors

John Toon — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 00:00:00 EDT

A new technique for creating films of barium titanate (BaTiO3) nanoparticles in a polymer matrix could allow fabrication of improved capacitors able to store twice as much energy as conventional devices.

Bacteria That Degrades PCBs Identified

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Researchers have identified a group of bacteria that can detoxify a common type of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which have contaminated more than 250 U.S. sites, including river and lake sediments.

Absorbing Molecules Produce65-Nanometer Patterns

John Toon — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Producing three-dimensional polymer line structures as small as 65 nanometers wide just became easier with new two-photon absorbing molecules that are sensitive to laser light at short wavelengths, allowing researchers to create them without highly sophisticated fabrication methods.

Ocean Creatures Provide Foundation for Electronics

John Toon — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 00:00:00 EST

The three-dimensional shells of tiny ocean creatures could provide the foundation for novel electronic devices, including gas sensors able to detect pollution faster and more efficiently than conventional devices.

Georgia Tech Physicist Pens Nanocatalysis Book

David Terraso — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 00:00:00 EST

Georgia Tech physicist Uzi Landman, along with a colleague from Technical University of Munich, has written the first book in the field of nanocatalysis.

Butterfly Wing is Template for Photonic Structures

John Toon — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 00:00:00 EST

By replicating the complex micron- and nanometer-scale photonic structures that help give butterfly wings their color, researchers have demonstrated a new technique that uses biotemplates for fabricating nanoscale optical structures.

Nanomaterials Based on Micro-Algae Patterns

Thu, 07 Dec 2006 00:00:00 EST

Georgia Tech researchers have developed a technique to study how unicellular micro-algae, known as diatoms, create their complex cell walls. They hope to learn how diatoms assemble intricate micro-architectures to find better ways to create nanomaterials.

Dopamine Used to Prompt Nerve Tissue to Regrow

Megan McRainey — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 00:00:00 EST

Georgia Tech/Emory researchers have integrated dopamine, a type of neurotransmitter, into a polymer to stimulate nerve tissues to send out new connections. The discovery, published in PNAS, is the first step toward the eventual goal of implanting the polymer into patients suffering from neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or epilepsy, to help repair damaged nerves.

Mimicking Nature Creates Self-Cleaning Coatings

John Toon — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 00:00:00 EDT

Researchers are mimicking one of Nature

Self Alignment Could Simplify LCD Manufacturing

John Toon — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 00:00:00 EDT

A new technique for creating vertical alignment among liquid crystal molecules could allow development of less costly flexible displays and lead to a better understanding of the factors governing operation of the popular display systems.

Chemical Screening Evaluates Fuel Cell Materials

John Toon — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 00:00:00 EDT

Researchers are developing a new screening system that would allow the simultaneous evaluation of hundreds or thousands of possible material combinations as candidates for future PEM fuel cells.

Side-Stream Chemicals Could Boost Biorefineries

John Toon — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 00:00:00 EDT

Biorefineries developed to produce ethanol from cellulose sources such as trees could get a significant economic boost from the sale of high-value chemicals

Study Reveals Nanoscale Properties of Explosives

John Toon — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 00:00:00 EDT

Using nanometer scale analysis techniques and quantities too small to explode, researchers have mapped the temperature and length-sale factors that make energetic materials

Earths Ozone Shield Shows Signs of Recovery

John Toon — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 00:00:00 EDT

Concentrations of atmospheric ozone -- which protects Earth from the sun

Scientists Uncover Critical Step in DNA Mutation

David Terraso — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 00:00:00 EDT

Scientists at Georgia Tech have made an important step toward solving a critical puzzle relating to a chemical reaction that leads to DNA mutation. The research uncovers knowledge that could be critical to the development of strategies for cancer prevention and treatment.

Nano Probe May Open New Window Into Cell Behavior

Megan McRainey — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 00:00:00 EDT

Georgia Tech researchers have created a nanoscale probe that can capture both the biochemical makeup and topography of complex biological objects in their normal environment

Researchers Look to Nature for Design Inspiration

Megan McRainey — Mon, 15 May 2006 00:00:00 EDT

Georgia Tech researchers are hoping to unlock the design secrets of nature to create everything from better sensors to better robots.

Nature Meets Technology at Georgia Tech Conference

David Terraso — Thu, 11 May 2006 00:00:00 EDT

For two days, May 11-12, researchers from 20 institutions will gather at the Georgia Institute of Technology for the first International Symposium for Biologically-inspired Design and Engineering.

Tibet Pathway for Chemicals To Reach Stratosphere

David Terraso — Tue, 09 May 2006 00:00:00 EDT

In research that could improve climate prediction models, scientists at Georgia Tech and NASA have found that thunderstorms over Tibet provide a main pathway for water vapor and chemicals to travel into the stratosphere, home of the protective ozone layer.

Ga Tech and Solvay: $3M Deal for OLED Research

David Terraso — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 00:00:00 EDT

The Georgia Institute of Technology's Center for Organic Photonics and Electronics (COPE) and Belgian chemical giant Solvay announced a $3 million deal for OLED research.