Underlying all devices are the materials needed to make them work. Over the past 25 years at UCLA, my research group has focused on the synthesis, characterization and applications of new materials. We have targeted three main areas: 1. Novel routes to creating nanofibers of conjugated polymers; 2. The synthesis of ultra-incompressible, superhard metallic borides: and 3. The growth of novel forms of carbon including superconducting fullerenes and graphene. 1. Since the inception of conducting polymers one of the most difficult challenges has been how to make them processable by methods used for traditional polymers � dissolution and melting. By creating nanofibers of conjugated polymers, these materials can now be dispersed in water and even melted. 2. By adding short covalent bonds to dense, but relatively soft transition metals, we have created transition metal borides that include the hardest known metallic materials. 3. New forms of carbon, e.g. graphene, may find interesting applications such as in flexible electronic devices.

Award Address  (ACS Award in the Chemistry of Materials sponsored by E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co.). Synthesis, characterization and applications of conducting polymer nanofibers, superhard metals and nanostructured carbon

243rd National Meeting (2012)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.