Alberto Striolo

Research Interests

The goal of our research is to understand and manipulate the interactions between nanoparticles in solution. Towards this goal, each group member integrates theoretical and experimental tools. We are currently pursuing several projects:

1. Metal nanoparticles supported on carbon nanotubes. Many applications have been proposed for carbon nanotubes. In collaboration with Prof. Resasco, we seek to develop heterogeneous catalysts by exploiting the impressive properties of these materials.
   
2. Nano-patterning of surfaces. In collaboration with Prof. Grady, we are developing novel methods for patterning surfaces with features precise at the nanometer scale. Possible applications of nano-patterned surfaces include biosensors and nanobatteries.
   
3. Aqueous solutions at solid-fluid interfaces. We are fascinated by the properties of aqueous solutions. Although bulk solution properties are quite well known, the properties of aqueous systems at interfaces are still far from understood. We are applying experimental and theoretical techniques to secure progress in this area.
   
4. Complex nanoparticulate systems. We have established a research program to answer the following simple question: what are the molecular origins of the interactions between nanoparticles in solution? o
   
5. Ion Channels. We are fascinated by the simple complexity of membrane ion channels. We believe that by controlling the gating mechanism in these nanopores we will learn how to fight important diseases such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer.

Dr Striolo teaches Process Control for undergraduate students and is developing an elective course on porous materials and their applications.

Our research is supported by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the US Department of Energy, and the Vice President for Research at the University of Oklahoma.

Selected Publications

A. Striolo, Colloidal Brushes in Complex Solutions: Existence of a Weak Mid-Range Attraction Due to Excluded-Volume Effects, Physical Reviews E, 74 (2006) 041401.

A. Striolo, Adsorption of Model Surfactant-Like Copolymers on Nano-Patterned Surfaces, Journal of Chemical Physics 125 (2006) 094709.

A. Striolo, The Mechanism of Water Diffusion in Narrow Carbon Nanotubes, Nano Letters, 6 (2006) 633.

X. Zhao, A. Striolo, and P.T. Cummings, C 60 Binds to and Deform Nucleotides, Biophysical Journal, submitted (2005) 3856.

A. Striolo, C. McCabe, and P.T. Cummings, Effective Interactions between Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes in Hexadecane from Molecular Simulation, Macromolecules, 38 (2005) 8950.

A. Striolo, A.A. Chialvo, P.T. Cummings, and K.E. Gubbins, Water Adsorption in Carbon-Slit Nanopores, Langmuir, 19 (2003) 8583-8591.

A. Striolo, J. Ward, J.M. Prausnitz, W.J. Parak, D. Zanchet, D. Gerion, D. Milliron, and A.P. Alivisatos, Molecular Weight, Osmotic Second Virial Coefficient, and Extinction Coefficient of Colloidal CdSe Nanocrystals, Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 106 (2002) 5500-5505.

A. Striolo, D. Bratko, J. Wu, N. Elvassore, H.W. Blanch, and J.M. Prausnitz, Forces between Aqueous non-Uniformly Charged Colloids from Molecular Simulation, Journal of Chemical Physics, 116 (2002) 7733-7743.

A. Striolo and J.M. Prausnitz, Adsorption of Branched Homopolymers on a Solid Surface, Journal of Chemical Physics, 114 (2001) 8565-8572.

Research Web Site

Home Page