Courses Taught:
Polymer Synthesis (CHEM 5090)Research Focus:
Dr. Gonsalves' research focuses on the molecular design, synthesis,
processing and characterization of novel materials. It draws on the
fundamental knowledge of organic, inorganic/ organo-metallic
chemistry for the synthesis of polymers and precursors for various
materials. Projects include the synthesis and processing of
organo-metallic polymers as precursors for ceramics and
intermetallics.
In a related effort, reactive monomers and oligomers are being
synthesized to produce high temperature coatings via thermal and/or
laser techniques. Methods utilizing these chemical routes are also
being developed to obtain ultrafine microstructures extending into
the nanoscale regime. Polymer nanocomposites for photonic,
electronic and magnetic applications are being synthesized and
characterized.
In another approach, biomimetic processing of novel
ceramic/polymer composites is being pursued. Initial objectives
include the adaptation of existing aqueous processing techniques for
enabling the direct crystallization of inorganic phases on polymer
matrices engineered as favorable substrates for heterogeneous
nucleation and crystal growth.
The direct synthesis of a-amino acids and oligomers is also being
conducted via controlled peptide methods for drug delivery and
targeting. Degradable polyamides and polyesteramides
incorporating amino acids such as tyrosine-leucine and glycine have
been successfully synthesized and their biodegradability examined
with various enzymes and microorganisms.
Self assembled nanostructures is a new focus of Dr. Gonsalves'
group, leading to novel sensors,structural including biomaterials as
well as optical and magnetic materials.
New initiatives for developing novel resist materials for
nanolithography (DUV, EUV, EB and X-ray) are underway.
Concepts of nanostructured materials technology developed in his
laboratory are now being applied to submicron (below 100 nm)
structures for microelectronics. . |
