Dr. Noshir S. Pesika

Assistant Professor
The Robert and Gayle Longmire Early Career Professor in Chemical Engineering

Research Interests

Nanomaterial synthesis and characterization, Surface functionalization and rheology, Bio-inspired materials, Surface Science, Electrochemistry

Nanomaterial Synthesis and Characterization
When the size of a particle is smaller than a characteristic length (e.g., electron mean free path), then the properties of the particle can be significantly different from its bulk properties. Zinc oxide nanoparticles exhibit novel optical properties (band gap enlargement) as their particle size decreases. The synthesis and characterization of such nanoparticles is essential for the development of new technologies exploiting the novel size-dependent properties of nanoparticles.

Surface Patterning
Patterned surfaces are of interest for a wide range of applications including flat panel displays, data storage device, and sensors. Photolithography is a common method used to create patterned structures although the process can be quite expensive and require several fabrication steps. Novel unconventional lithography techniques are under development.

Bio-Inspired Materials
The gecko adhesive systemconsists of a complex hierarchy of structuresranging fromcentimeters down to nanometers.The later provides sufficient compliance to the system to allow for intimate contact with surfaces of different degrees of roughness, thereby allowing strong adhesion through van der Waals interactions. In addition to promoting strong adhesion, the gecko adhesive system has several other properties which make it attractive for future technologies. Understanding the gecko adhesive system would allow for the fabrication of dry adhesives inspired by the gecko.

- Consortium for the Molecular Engineering of Dispersant Systems (C-MEDS Consortium, Year 2-4 Consortia Grants (RFP-I), Role: Co-Principal Investigator, Task Co-Lead)