Keith Brown

Nanocombinatorial Electrochemistry for Ultrathin Polymer Films

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Polymers can be electrochemically deposited on complex three dimensional structures which holds extraordinary promise for diverse applications ranging from battery electrodes to tissue engineering. However, there are far too many potential precursors and processing conditions to explore using conventional serial experimentation. Thus, we will construct and test high-throughput and closed-loop methods for electrochemically depositing and testing polymer films. This project is a collaboration between a nanomanufacturing group (Brown) and a functional polymers group (Werner). In addition to developing novel experimental hardware, this project will incorporate machine learning approaches to guide in the systematic selection of experiments.

LABORATORY MENTOR

Keith Brown

RESEARCH GOALS

-Construct and test a system to perform electrochemical deposition of polymer films using ink-jet printing and local electrochemistry.
-Construct and test methods to evaluate the performance of polymer films on the microscopic scale.
-Run machine-learning guided experimental campaigns to identify high performing compositions.
-Utilize scanning probe techniques for nanoscale characterization of these films.

LEARNING GOALS

-Experience developing novel experimental systems.
-Exposure to a novel paradigm of materials testing in which machine learning is used hand-in-hand with experimental systems.
-Fundamental understanding of the behavior of polymers at the nanoscale.
-Experience in electrochemistry and scanning probe microscopy.

Learn more about Professor Brown on his faculty page.