Professor of Chemistry
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1972
charles.m.lukehart@vanderbilt.edu

Nanocomposite Materials
The Lukehart group discovers and develops new synthesis strategies for the preparation of inorganic materials that exhibit desired chemical reactivity or interesting physical properties. There is a special focus on the preparation of nanocomposite materials in which nanoparticles of a guest substance are highly dispersed either on a solid support or throughout a solid matrix. For many applications, single-source molecular precursors are used to control the elemental composition of the nanoparticle substance. Instrumental methods used by the Lukehart group for the characterization of the resulting nanocomposite materials include transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning probe microscopy, thermogravimetric and surface-area analysis.
Specific research projects under active investigation include the following:

• Use of single-source or dual-source molecular precursors for the synthesis of metal or metal alloy/carbon nanocomposites for testing as supported catalysts in PEM fuel cells.
• Use of single-source or dual-source molecular precursors for the synthesis of superparamagnetic or ferromagnetic nanoparticles.
• Synthesis of graphitic carbon nanofibers (GCNFs) materials including GCNF pellets, GCNF/Si wafer mats, superhydrophobic GCNF/carbon felt mats, and metal/GCNF intercalates.
• Synthesis and characterization of graphitic carbon nanofiber and nanodiamond hybrid nanocomposite materials in which surface-modified GCNFs and nanodiamond particles, including polymer brushes, are covalently incorporated into organic polymer or ceramic matrices or function as senors.

Selected Publications

King WD., Kwiatkowski KC., Lukehart CM. Synthesis and solid-state structure of a Pt-Ru-P ternary metal phosphide (PtRuP2) as a carbon nanocomposite. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. 2008, 8 (6): 3146-3152.

Jason A. Michel, Vance S. Robinson, Liu Yang, Senthil Sambandam, Weijie Lu, Tyler Westover, Timothy S. Fisher, and Charles M. Lukehart. Synthesis and Characterization of Potassium Metal/Graphitic Carbon Nanofiber Intercalates. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. 2008, 8: 1 - 9.

Lang Li, Jiang Li, and Charles M. Lukehart. Graphitic Carbon Nanofiber-Poly(acrylate) Polymer Brushes as Gas Sensors. Journal Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical. 2008, 130: 783 - 788.

Jiang Li, Senthil Sambandam, Weijie Lu, and Charles M. Lukehart. Carbon Nanofibers “Spot-Welded” to Carbon felt: A Mechanically Stable, Bulk Mimic of Lotus Leaves. Advance Materials. 2008, 20: 420 - 424.

Jiang Li, Eve S. Steigerwalt, Senthil Sambandam, Weijie Lu, and Charles M. Lukehart. Carbon Nanofibers “Spot-Welded” to Carbon Paper by Carbothermal Reduction:  A Nano/Micron-Scale Hierarchial Architecture having Low Contact Resistance. Chemical of Materials. 2007, 19: 6001 – 6006.

Jiang Li, Vance S. Robinson, Yang Liu, Weijie Lu, Timothy S. Fisher, and Charles M. Lukehart. Synthesis and Thermionic Emission Properties of Graphitic Carbon Nanofibres Supported on Si Wafers or Carbon Felt. Nanotechnology. 2007, 18: 325606/1 – 325606/8.

L. Roy Xu, Lang Li, Charles M. Lukehart, and Huacheng Kuai. Mechanical Characterization of Nanofiber-Reinforced Composite Adhesives. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. 2007, 7: 2546 - 2548.

Zhamu A, Hou YP, Zhong WH, Stone JJ, Li J, Lukehart CM. Properties of a reactive-graphitic-carbon-nanofibers-reinforced epoxy. Polymer Composites. 2007, 28 (5): 605-611.

Wellons MS, Morris WH, Gai Z, Shen J, Bentley J, Wittig JE, Lukehart CM. Direct synthesis and size selection of ferromagnetic FePt nanoparticles. Chemistry of Materials. 2007, 19 (10): 2483-2488.

Ryan D. Rutledge, Morris, William H., III, Matthew S. Wellons, Zheng Gai, Jian Shen, James Bentley, James E. Wittig, Charles M. Lukehart. Formation of FePt Nanoparticles Having High Coercivity. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 2006, 128: 14210 – 14211.

W. Lu, J. A. Michel, C. M. Lukehart, W.E. Collins, and W. C. Mitchel. Ni Graphite Intercalated Compounds in Ohmic Contact Formation on SiC. Materials Science Forum. 2006, N/A: 527-529.

Rutledge RD, Morris WH, Wellons MS, Gai Z, Shen J, Bentley J, Wittig JE, Lukehart CM. Formation of FePt nanoparticles having high coercivity. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 2006, 128 (44): 14210-14211.

Li L, Davidson JL, Lukehart CM. Surface functionalization of nanodiamond particles via atom transfer radical polymerization. Carbon. 2006, 44 (11): 2308-2315.

Li L, Lukehart CM. Synthesis of hydrophobic and hydrophilic graphitic carbon nanofiber polymer brushes. Chemistry of Materials. 2006, 18 (1): 94-99.

W. H. Morris, III, Lisa M. Sullivan, Matthew S. Wellons, and Charles M. Lukehart. Organic Synthesis Using Transition Metal Complexes Containing Pi-Bonded Ligands. Encyclopedia of Inorganic Chemistry. 2005, 6: 3880-3935.

V. S. Robinson, T. S. Fisher, J. A. Michel, and C. M. Lukehart. Work Function Reduction of Graphitic Nanofibers by Potassium Intercalation. Applied Physics Letters. 2005, 87: 061501-061503.

L. Roy Xu, Charles M. Lukehart, Lang Li, Sreeparma Sengupta, and Ping Wang. Structural Nanocomposite Bonding Reinforced by Graphite Nanofibers with Surface Treatments. Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings. 2005, 843: 81-88.

Li J, Vergne MJ, Mowles ED, Zhong WH, Hercules DM, Lukehart CM. Surface functionalization and characterization of graphitic carbon nanofibers (GCNFs). Carbon. 2005, 43 (14): 2883-2893.

Zhong WH, Li J, Lukehart CM, Xu LYR. Graphitic carbon nanofiber (GCNF)/polymer materials. II. GCNF/epoxy monoliths using reactive oxydianiline linker molecules and the effect of nanofiber reinforcement on curing conditions. Polymer Composites. 2005, 26 (2): 128-135.

Sullivan LM, Lukehart CM. Zirconium tungstate (ZrW2O8)/polyimide nanocomposites exhibiting reduced coefficient of thermal expansion. Chemistry of Materials. 2005, 17 (8): 2136-2141.

Kwiatkowski KC, Milne SB, Mukerjee S, Lukehart CM. Synthesis of Pt-Mo/Carbon nanocomposites from single-source molecular precursors: A (1 : 1) PtMo/C PEMFC anode catalyst exhibiting CO tolerance. Journal of Cluster Science. 2005, 16 (2): 251-272.

Zhong, Wei Hong; Li, Jiang; Xu, Luoyu R.; Michel, Jason A.; Sullivan, Lisa M.; Lukehart, Charles M. Graphitic Carbon Nanofiber (GCNF)/Polymer Materials. I. GCNF/Epoxy Monoliths Using Hexadiamine Linker Molecules. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. 2004, 4 (9): 794-802.

Lu, Weijie; Steigerwalt, Eve. S; Moore, Joshua T.; Sullivan, Lisa M.; Collins, W. Eugene; Lukehart, C. M. Carbothermal Transformation of a Graphitic Carbon Nanofiber/Silica Aerogel Composite to a SiC/Silica Gel Nanocomposite. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. 2004, 4 (9): 803-808.

Anderson, Angela D.; Deluga, Gregg A.; Boxall, Deborah L.; Vergne, Matthew J.; Hercules, David M.; Kenik, Edward A.; Lukehart, C.M. Preparation of Pt-Re/Vulcan Carbon Nanocomposites Using a Single-Source Molecular Precursor as a Source of Metal and Performance as a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Electrooxidation Catalyst. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. 2004, 4 (9): 809-816.

Xu, L. R.; Bhamidipati, V.; Zhong, W.-H.; Li, J.; Lukehart, C. M.; Lara-Curzio, E.; Liu, K. C.; Lance, M. J. Mechanical Property Characterization of A Polymeric Nanocomposite Reinforced by Graphitic Nanofibers with Reactive Linkers. Journal of Composite Materierals. 2004, 38: 1563-1582.

Specialties

• Materials Chemistry
• Inorganic Chemistry

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