Materials Chemistry

Materials chemistry projects ongoing in our department

  • Development of new surface-based methods for detecting and manipulating biological molecules (bio-chips, bio-electronics)
  • Surface/interface chemistry of microelectronic materials (silicon, diamond, gold)
  • DNA computing (using DNA molecules as molecular computers or memory devices)
  • Molecular electronics (using individual molecules or ensembles of molecules as wires, switches, diodes, and transistors)
  • Synthesis and characterization of electron-delocalized polysilanes (molecular “wires”)
  • Structure and dynamics of polymers (experiment and theory)
  • Photonics
  • Semiconductor-based chemical sensors
  • Synthesis and characterization of organic non-linear optical materials
  • Quantum dots (nanometer-sized assemblies of atoms)

Other materials-related opportunities on campus

The Materials Chemistry Program is administered by the Department of Chemistry in the College of Letters and Sciences. It is intended for students who want a Ph.D. degree in chemistry, but with an emphasis in “materials”.

In addition to the Materials Chemistry Program, students and faculty with interests in ” materials” can further benefit by association with the Materials Science Program (MSP) on the UW-Madison campus. The MSP is a completely distinct, cross-campus program administered by the College of Engineering for students who want a “materials”-oriented degree with a stronger engineering focus. Although the MSP is administered by the College of Engineering, students in the MSP can perform their Ph.D. research with any of the 55 faculty in 12 departments who are members of the Materials Science Program Advisory Committee. The MSP also has a regular seminar series that brings many renowned scientists to speak on their research.

Materials Faculty

AJ Boydston

Position title: Professor of Chemistry, Yamamoto Family Professor, Affiliate in MSE and CBE

Email: aboydston@wisc.edu

Mark D. Ediger

Position title: Hyuk Yu Professor of Chemistry

Email: ediger@chem.wisc.edu

Dawei Feng

Position title: Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Chemistry

Email: dfeng23@wisc.edu

Samuel H. Gellman

Position title: Professor of Chemistry, Vilas Research Professor, Ralph F. Hirschmann Professor of Chemistry

Email: gellman@chem.wisc.edu

Shaoqin Sarah Gong

Position title: Vilas Distinguished Professor, Advancing Vision Science Chair Professor, and RRF Edwin and Dorothy Gamewell Professor in the Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, and Chemistry

Email: shaoqingong@wisc.edu

Padma Gopalan

Position title: Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Chemistry

Email: pgopalan@wisc.edu

Robert J. Hamers

Position title: Professor of Chemistry, Steenbock Professor of Physical Science

Email: rjhamers@wisc.edu

Ive Hermans

Position title: John and Dorothy Vozza Professor of Chemistry, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering

Email: hermans@chem.wisc.edu

Song Jin

Position title: Francis J. DiSalvo Professor of Physical Science

Email: jin@chem.wisc.edu

David Lynn

Position title: Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Chemistry

Email: dlynn@engr.wisc.edu

Jeff Martell

Position title: Assistant Professor of Chemistry

Email: jdmartell@wisc.edu

JR Schmidt

Position title: Professor of Chemistry

Email: schmidt@chem.wisc.edu

Marcel Schreier

Position title: Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry

Email: mschreier2@wisc.edu

John C. Wright

Position title: Andreas C. Albrecht Professor of Chemistry

Email: wright@chem.wisc.edu

Martin T. Zanni

Position title: V. W. Meloche-Bascom Professor of Chemistry

Email: zanni@chem.wisc.edu