REU: Research Experiences for Undergraduates and Teachers in Functional and Nanostructured Materials Carlos Rinaldi, University of Puerto Rico, Mayag

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REU Research Experiences for Undergraduates and
Teachers in Functional and Nanostructured
MaterialsCarlos Rinaldi, University of Puerto
Rico, Mayagüez, DMR 0552673
Thirteen students from the US and Puerto Rico
spent eight weeks at UPRM as part of the 2007 REU
Program in Functional and Nanostructured
Materials at the UPRM. The students research
projects studied the synthesis and
characterization of functional nanomaterials such
as magnetic and semiconductor nanoparticles,
nanoporous materials, and nanocomposites. In
addition, two Middle School teachers spent four
weeks working on individual research projects and
developing educational modules suitable for their
classrooms. In addition to carrying out
independent research under the direct supervision
of the faculty mentors, a series of educational
seminars provided training on responsible conduct
and dissemination of research. Weekend activities
exposed the participants to the unique
Hispanic-American historical and cultural
environment of Puerto Rico and provided the
students with opportunities to learn Spanish as a
second language. The site was supported by NSF
REU program and the Department of Defense ASSURE
program, and is part of the NSF funded
Partnership for Research and Education in
Materials (PREM) Program at the University of
Puerto Rico, Mayaguez (DMR-0351449).
Left to Right Angel D. Cortés, Veronica Díaz,
Carmelo Declet, Nicole Hernández, Kendall
Williamson, Markelle W. Gibbs, Hannah Peters,
Dominick Bindl, Laurène Dykiel, Cicily Smith,
Ranulfo Allen, Sonia Aviles, and Michael C. Hara
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REU Research Experiences for Undergraduates and
Teachers in Functional and Nanostructured
Materials Carlos Rinaldi, University of Puerto
Rico, Mayagüez, DMR 0552673
Summer 2007 Participating Students
Name Gender Ethnicity College Level Home Institution
Ranulfo D. Allen M African American Junior Princeton
Sonia L. Aviles F Puerto Rican Junior UPR-Mayaguez
Dominick J. Bindl M Caucasian Junior Univ. of Minnesota
Angel D. Cortés-Morales M Puerto Rican Junior UPR-Mayaguez
Carmelo Declet-Perez M Puerto Rican Junior UPR-Mayaguez
Laurene Dykiel F Caucasian Sophomore Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst
Miguel A. Estremera M Puerto Rican Junior UPR-Mayaguez
Michael C. Hara M Pacific Islander Sophomore California Polytechnic, Pomona
Markelle L. Gibbs M African American Junior Univ. of Pittsburg
Hannah L. Peters F Caucasian Sophomore Agnes Scott College
Veronica Díaz-Rodríguez F Puerto Rican Junior UPR-Rio Piedras
Cicily L. Smith F African American Junior Austin College
Kendall M. Williamson F Caucasian Sophomore Univ. of South Carolina
Student was supported through other NSF grant,
but participated in all REU activities.
Seven male and six female students. Eight
students from underrepresented ethnic
groups.Four sophomores and nine juniors.
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REU Research Experiences for Undergraduates and
Teachers in Functional and Nanostructured
Materials Carlos Rinaldi, University of Puerto
Rico, Mayagüez, DMR 0552673
Synthesis and Characterization of Dextran and
pNIPAAM Coated Magnetic NanoparticlesVeronica
Díaz, Laurène Dykiel, Prof. Madeline Torres-Lugo,
and Prof. Carlos Rinaldi REU students Veronica
Díaz and Laurène Dykiel synthesized magnetite
nanoparticles for testing in magnetic fluid
hyperthermia, an experimental form of cancer
treatment. Veronica optimized synthesis
conditions for coating the magnetic particles
with the polysaccharide dextran, whereas Laurene
synthesized particles coated with the
thermoresponsive polymer pNIPAAM. Both students
learned techniques in nanoparticle synthesis and
characterization, including FTIR, SQUID
magnetometry, dynamic light scattering, and zeta
potential measurements. This project is part of
NSF sponsored research, through award
CBET-0609117 NIRT Magnetically and Thermally
Active Nanoparticles for Cancer Treatment
46 C
37 C
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REU Research Experiences for Undergraduates and
Teachers in Functional and Nanostructured
Materials (DMR-0552673)

• Titanium Silicate Based Nanostructured Materials
  The Quest for Selective and High Adsorption
  Capacity Flexible Frameworks Kendall Williamson
  and Prof. Arturo J. Hernández-Maldonado
• REU student Kendall Williamson synthesized a
  novel titanium silicate nanoporous material
  (UPRM-4) using a structure directing agent (SDA).
  She was able to study the effect of Si/Ti and
  SDA/Ti ratios on the final framework properties.
  For example, increasing the Si/Ti ratio proves to
  be detrimental to the crystalline structure,
  resulting in an amorphous material. However,
  increasing the Si/Ti ratio results in a material
  that is very crystalline, flexible, and stable
  under high temperatures. The latter case is
  suitable for applications involving the
  separation of light gases with similar molecular
  dimensions and properties.
• Kendall learned techniques in characterization,
  including in situ DSC-XRD, SEM, FTIR, TGA and
  porosimetry measurements.

SEM images of UPRM-4, a nanoporous material with
flexible framework and ultra-large pore volume.
Source K. Williamson and A.J. Hernández-MAldonado
, unpublished data, 2007.
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REU Research Experiences for Undergraduates and
Teachers in Functional and Nanostructured
Materials (DMR-0552673)

• Water Treatment via Adsorption Techniques /
  Development of Adsorption Based Educational
  Modules Mrs. Lucille Oliver and Prof. Arturo J.
  Hernández-Maldonado
• RET teacher Mrs. Lucille Oliver performed
  experiments for the removal of chlofibric acid
  from water using functionalized mesoporous
  silicate materials. In addition, she spent time
  developing a K-12 adsorption demonstration
  experiment / module. The module consisted of
  using activated carbon sorbents to remove dyes
  from water. Recovery of the treated aqueous
  phase, for instance, was accomplished using a
  simple coffee maker filter paper.

K-12 teacher, Mrs. Lucille Oliver, developing a
visual and educational experiment about
adsorption of aqueous dyes using activated
carbon.
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REU Research Experiences for Undergraduates and
Teachers in Functional and Nanostructured
Materials (DMR-0552673)
Connecting the Dots Enhancing Structural
Materials from the NanoscaleCicily Smith and
Prof. O. Marcelo Suárez Although the realm of
nanostructured materials appears to be limited to
a few nanometer scale, we have demonstrated that
they can help enhance structural materials. By
high-energy ball milling we were able to nanosize
hard ceramic particles (AlB2, NbB2. HfB2)
embedded in an aluminum matrix. The material
was used to inoculate commercial aluminum alloys,
i.e. AA 6061 and AA7075, normally used in
aerospace and transportation structures. The
resulting nano-inoculated alloy showed a finer
microstructure, which leads to improved
mechanical properties, i.e. higher strength and
better corrosion resistance. This project is part
of NSF sponsored research, through award
DMR-0351449 PREM Partnership for Research and
Education in Functional and Nanostructured
Materials at the UPRM
As-cast AA 7075 aluminum alloy without
nanoinoculation.
AA 7075 aluminum alloy inoculated with nanosized
AlB2 particles, showing a much finer grain
structure.
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REU Research Experiences for Undergraduates and
Teachers in Functional and Nanostructured
Materials (DMR-0552673)
Development of a Ferrofluid Based Magnetocaloric
PumpAngel D. Cortés and Prof. Gustavo
Gutierrez REU student Angel D. Cortes synthesized
MnZn ferrite nanoparticles for use in a prototype
magnetocaloric pump. The pump action results from
the higher affinity of cold ferrofluid to regions
of high magnetic field, resulting in displacement
of the warmer ferrofluid. Angel learned
techniques in nanoparticle synthesis and
characterization, including SQUID magnetometry
and dynamic light scattering measurements of the
particle hydrodynamic radius. This project is
part of DoD sponsored research, through award
50797-RT-ISP Magnetocaloric Effect Using a
Magnetic Monodisperse Nanofluid with Low Curie
Temperature for Electronic Cooling Applications
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REU Research Experiences for Undergraduates and
Teachers in Functional and Nanostructured
Materials Carlos Rinaldi, University of Puerto
Rico, Mayagüez, DMR 0552673
REU Students Have Fun in the Sun, Learn to SCUBA
Dive What can be better than spending a summer
involved in state of the art research in the
tropical setting of an island paradise? In
addition to working hard on their research
projects, UPRM REU students spent their weekends
hiking in the El Yunque National Rain Forest,
exploring colonial Old San Juan, and enjoying the
beautiful beaches of Puerto Rico. Some of the
students even took the opportunity to become
certified open water divers!
Left to right Veronica Díaz, Angel D. Cortés,
Eunice Mercado, Milton Rivera, Kendall
Williamson, Dominick Bindl, Laurène Dykiel,
Hannah Peters, Ranulfo Allen, Darlene Santiago,
Markelle Gibbs, and Cicily Smith