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photo of Avik P. ChatterjeeAvik P. Chatterjee

Assistant Professor
Polymer Chemistry
220 Jahn Laboratory
470-4747
apchatte@esf.edu

Ph.D., 1996, Cornell University; Postdoctoral Associate, 1996-1998, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Postdoctoral Associate, 1998-1999, Institute of Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland at College Park. 

The research efforts in the Chatterjee group focus on understanding structure and thermodynamics in complex fluids using methods of macromolecular liquid-state theory. The problems we investigate are at the interface of physical chemistry and materials science, and our methods include both numerical techniques for solving coupled integral equations as well as the development of analytical theory and models. In particular, we employ the connectedness Ornstein-Zernike formalism to elucidate geometric/connectedness percolation in polymeric fluids and mixtures. The percolation threshold for elongated, rod-like nanoparticles dispersed in a matrix of flexible macromolecules depends upon both the nanoparticle aspect ratio as well as the particle-matrix interactions. Exploring the nature of these dependences within the integral-equation based connectedness Ornstein-Zernike approach is an avenue of continuing interest to our group. Additionally, we are interested in the elastic properties of nanofiber-reinforced composites. A theoretical framework for modeling such nanocomposites has been developed which integrates micromechanical estimates for network deformation energies with results from percolation theory and effective medium formalisms appropriate to heterogeneous materials.

An overview of our research into connectedness percolation in polymeric systems is provided in this poster. Further details regarding our work may be found in Dr. Xiaoling Wang's doctoral thesis.

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