University of Delaware - College of Engineering
CHEMICAL & BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING

People

Faculty

Thomas H Epps, III

Thomas Epps, III
  • DuPont Young Professor
  • Assistant Professor

215 CLB
University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware 19716
thepps@udel.edu
302-831-0215
302-831-1048 (fax)


Education
  • Post-Doctorate - 2006 NRC Postdoctoral Fellow - NIST
  • Doctorate - 2004 University of Minnesota
  • Masters - 1999 Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Bachelors - 1998 Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"We are interested in designing novel nanostructured materials for fuel cell, lithium battery, and other ion-conduction applications; analytical separation membranes; nanoporous templates and sensors. We manipulate polymer internal and external interfacial characteristics in bulk and thin film environments to influence the ordering and stability of polymer structures, particularly in block copolymers and polymer blends.

Four main areas of interest include: (see Research Group heading for more information)

1. Generating network nanostructures in high molecular weight and ion-conducting block copolymer systems.

2. Stabilizing triply-periodic (network) structures in ultrathin polymer films.

3. Synthesizing novel block copolymer structures in microfluidic devices.

4. Creating thermally-reversible, co-continuous microstructured materials using polymer blends."

XSelected Publications

For a complete listing of publications, please view the Full CV.
  1. Albert, J. N. L.; Young, W.; Bogart, T. D.; Lewis, R. L., III; Smith, J.; Epps, T. H., III, "A Systematic Study of the Effect of Solvent Removal Rate on the Morphology of Solvent Vapor Annealed ABA Triblock Copolymer Thin Films", ACS Nano (2012)
  2. Kelly, J. Y.; Albert, J. N. L.; Howarter, J. A.; Stafford, C. M.; Epps, T. H., III, Fasolka, M. J., "Manipulating Morphology and Orientation in Thermally-Responsive Block Copolymer Thin Films", Journal of Polymer Science: Polymer Physics 50(4), 263, (2012)
  3. Patterson, J. P.; Sanchez, A. M.; Petzetakis, N.; Smart, T. P.; Epps, T. H., III; Portman, I.; Wilson, N. R.; O'Reilly, R. K., "A simple approach to characterizing block copolymer assemblies: graphene oxide supports for high contrast multi-technique imaging", Soft Matter (2011)
  4. Young, W.; Albert, J. N. L.; Schantz, A. B.; Epps, T. H.,III, "Mixed-salt Effects on the Ionic Conductivity of Lithium-doped PEO-containing Block Copolymers", Macromolecules 44(20), 8116, (2011)
  5. Albert, J. N. L.; Kim, J.; Stafford, C. M.; Epps, T. H., III, "Controlled Vapor Deposition Approach to Generating Substrate Surface Energy/Chemistry Gradients", Review of Scientific Instruments 82, 0651031, (2011)
  6. Kelley, E. G.; Smart, T. P.; Jackson, A. J.; Sullivan, M. O.; Epps, T. H., III, "Manipulating the Structural Conformation of PB-PEO Micelles in Water-THF Co-Solvent Mixtures", Soft Matter published online, (2011)
  7. Roy, R.; Park, J. K.; Young, W.; Mastroianni, S.; Tureau, M. S.; Epps, T. H., III, "Gyroid Networks in Tapered Diblock Copolymers", Macromolecules 44(10), 3910, (2011)
  8. Albert, J. N. L.; Bogart, T. D.; Lewis, R. L.; Beers, KI. LO.; Fasolka, M. J.; Hutchison, J. B.; Vogt, B. V.; Epps, T. H., III, "Gradient Solvent Vapor Annealing of Block Copolymer Thin Films Using a Microfluidic Mixing Device", Nano Letters 11(3), 1351, (2011)
  9. Tureau, M. S.; Rong, L.; Hsiao, B.; Epps, T. H. III, "Phase Behavior of Neat Triblock Copolymers and Copolymer/Homopolymer Blends Newar Network Phase Windows", Macromolecules 43(21), 9039, (2010)
  10. Albert, J. N. L.; Epps, T. H., III, "Self-Assembly in Block Copolymer Thin Films", Materials Today 13, 24, (2010)

XPatents

XSelected Awards

For a complete listing of awards, please view the Full CV.
  1. Gerard J. Mangone Young Scholar Award (Alison Young Professor) (University of Delaware: 2011)
  2. DuPont Young Professor Award: 2010
  3. Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists & Engineers - Department of Defense: 2009
  4. Air Force Young Investigator Award: 2009
  5. College of Engineering Outstanding Junior Facutly (University of Delaware: 2009)
  6. National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Frontiers of Engineering: 2008
  7. National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Seed Grant Award: 2007
  8. National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award: 2007
  9. Lloyd Ferguson Young Scientist Award (NOBCChE): 2007
  10. DOW Distinguished Lecturer, UC Santa Barbara: 2007


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