Research efforts in this area primarily
lie in exploring physical and chemical phenomena occurring at the boundaries
between phases of matter. Fundamental
studies of surfaces and interfaces have led to important developments in
related technological areas such as semiconductor device fabrication,
pharmaceutical processing, corrosion and lubrication, and catalysts used in
automobile exhaust systems and throughout the chemical industry. For a wide variety of material systems,
faculty members in the chemical engineering department have developed a
leading-edge research program in this area with a well-balanced emphasis on fundamentals
and applications. Using experiment,
theory, and simulation, our research focus ranges from the fundamental aspects
of surface chemistry, interfacial interactions, and transport processes to the growth
of nanoparticles and thin films, separation and
emulsion, and self assembly and patterning of nanostructures, with applications
to future chemical, biological, and electronic devices. This research has greatly benefited from the
ease of access to the world-class experimental and computational equipment and
resources established in the Texas Materials Institute, Center for Nano and Molecular Science and Technology,
Faculty