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Avik P. Chatterjee
Associate Professor

220 Jahn Lab
1 Forestry Dr.
Syracuse, New York 13210

Phone: (315) 470-6517/470-6855
Email: 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 as well as lattice-based approaches are avenues 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 example of a comparison of results from our theory with experimental measurement is depicted below:

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

• Course Webpage

Recent Publications

• Connectedness percolation in monodisperse rod systems: clustering effects, A.P. Chatterjee, Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 23, 375101, (2011).
• A simple model for characterizing non-uniform fibre-based composites and networks, A.P. Chatterjee, Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 23, 155104, (2011).
• Connectedness percolation in polydisperse rod systems: A modified Bethe lattice approach, A.P. Chatterjee, J. Chem. Phys., 132, 224905, (2010)^*.
• Nonuniform fiber networks and fiber-based composites: Pore size distributions and elastic moduli, A.P. Chatterjee, J. Appl. Phys., 108, 063513, (2010)*.
• Elastic moduli of cellulose nanoparticle-reinforced composites: A micromechanical model, D.A. Prokhorova and A.P. Chatterjee, Biomacromolecules, 10, 3259-3265, (2009).
• Percolation thresholds for rod-like particles: polydispersity effects, A.P. Chatterjee, Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 20, 255250, (2008).
• Modeling the elastic moduli of fiber networks and nanocomposites: Transversely isotropic filler particles, A.P. Chatterjee, J. Appl. Phys., 103, 064316, (2008)*.
• An effective medium model for the elastic moduli of fiber networks and nanocomposites, A.P. Chatterjee and Darya A. Prokhorova, J. Appl. Phys., 101, 104301, (2007)*.
• A model for the elastic moduli of three-dimensional fiber networks and nanocomposites, A.P. Chatterjee, J. Appl. Phys., 100, 054302, (2006)*.
• Integral equation theory for athermal solutions of linear polymers, A.P. Chatterjee, J. Chem. Phys., 121, 11432-11439, (2004)*.
• Depletion interactions induced by flexible polymers in solutions of rod-like macromolecules, Xiaoling Wang and A.P. Chatterjee, J. Chem. Phys., 119, 12629-12634, (2003)*.
• Connectedness percolation in athermal mixtures of flexible and rigid macromolecules: Analytic theory, Xiaoling Wang and A.P. Chatterjee, J. Chem. Phys., 118, 10787-10793, (2003)*. 

*Copyright American Institute of Physics. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the American Institute of Physics.

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