WIN Seminar Series: Surface and Interface Characteristics of Polyelectrolyte Brushes

Please join the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology on Monday, April 8, 2019 for a guest lecture by Dr. Atsushi Takahara from the Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, WPI I²CNER, Kyushu University, Japan. He will be speaking on "Surface and Interface Characteristics of Polyelectrolyte Brushes".

Abstract:

Soft interfaces offer fascinating opportunities for addressing numerous problems of both academic and industrial interests: high-quality functional or protective coatings, composite materials, sur   face engineered particles, metal-organic interfaces, biological applications, micro-patterning, etc. Polymers chemically grafted to the surface of substrates are typical soft interfaces known as polymer brushes. Surfaces covered with polyelectrolyte brushes are particularly attractive because of their potential applications including adhesion, antifouling, biocompatibility and water lubrication systems. In this presentation, our recent researches on control of wettability and adhesion through precise design of soft interfaces such as a polyeletrolyte brush surface are presented. We started from fundamental science including precise polyelectrolyte synthesis and solution characterization of polyelectrolytes, characterization of polymer brush at water interfaces, and water structure in polymer brushes. On that basis of these fundamental studies, we have successfully achieved 1) superhydrophilicity, 2) antifouling properties, 3) super-lubricant behavior, and 4) cell-surface interaction control.

Bio:

Prof. Atsushi Takahara earned his D.Eng.(1983) in the field of polymer science from Kyushu University. Since 1999, he is a full professor of Kyushu University. He has been a project leader of JST/ERATO Takahara Soft Interfaces Project (2008-2014), a director of Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University (2013-2017), visiting professor of East-Paris University(2018). He is currently a senior editor of Langmuir(2016-) and EAB member of several international journals. From 2005 to 2008 and 2011 to 2017, he was a member of Science Council of Japan. He received many awards including Polymer Science Award(2003), Rheology Award(2013), APS Fellow (2014),  ACS Fluoropolymer 3M Award(2014), RSC Fellow(2016), and SPSJ Award for Outstanding Achievement on Polymer Science and Technology(2018). He was a president of Society of Polymer Science (2014-2016). At present, he is a president of Materials Research Society, Japan (2017-2019). He has published more than 550 peer reviewed papers. His research interests are focused on advanced soft material science such as polymer surface and interface, polymer nanocomposites, and novel tough polymers, and quantum beam science applied to soft matter.