Jian Chen

Organic Chemistry/Materials Chemistry
Assistant Professor
PhD, Fudan University
(414) 229-6464
e-mail: jianchen@uwm.edu
Recent Publications

My group's research is focused on fundamental understanding of organic nanomaterials and their applications in the areas of alternative energy, smart materials, and biomedical materials and devices. We seek to use Nature’s assembling rules in conjunction with synthetic organic/polymer chemistry, supramolecular/bioconjugate chemistry and nanotechnology to design and synthesize nanostructured materials with synergistic multifunctionality. Our current research projects include:

1) Smart nanostructures and nanomaterials. The research objectives of this project are to design and synthesize both the monodisperse and polydisperse new nanostructures, and to develop entirely new classes of smart nanomaterials with synergistic multifunctionality. The proposed new nanostructures and nanomaterials offer the potential for quantum improvements in material properties. They may find applications in polymer composites, supported catalysts, tissue engineering, drug delivery and release.

2) Multifunctional carbon nanotube materials. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), due to their high aspect ratio, small diameter, low weight, high mechanical strength, high thermal and air stability, high electrical and thermal conductivity, and unique optical properties, are expected to find numerous applications in multifunctional composites, chemical and biological sensors, fuel cells, super capacitors and lithium batteries. But the SWNTs are difficult to functionalize without altering the nanotube’s desirable intrinsic properties, and are hard to manipulate and assemble controllably, which significantly hamper their applications. The research objectives of this project are to develop new approaches to controlled 2D and 3D assembly of SWNTs using “wet” nanotechnologies, and to prepare novel carbon nanotube materials with unique combination of both passive and active multifunctions.

Selected Awards
Graduate School/UWM Foundation Research Award, 2007; NASA Space Act Tech Brief Award, 2007; Best 25 Micro- and Nanotechnologies of 2006, 2006; R&D 100 Award, 2005.

One postdoctoral research associate position is available for the multi-step organic synthesis of functional conjugated oligomers and polymers. A SUCCESSFUL candidate must have PROVEN expertise in Pd-catalyzed organic reactions with a STRONG publication record and hands-on experience in Schlenk techniques for air- and moisture-sensitive reactions. QUALIFIED applicants should send a complete resume with a cover letter (including available date) and the names and email addresses of three references to Dr. Jian Chen at jianchen@uwm.edu.