Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

Top 20 Doctoral Program—National Research Council

Faculty

Dr. Ramanan Krishnamoorti

Dow Chair Professor and Department Chair
Professor of Chemistry

Office Location: S227, Engineering Building 1

Tel: (713) 743-4307 | Fax: (713) 743-4323

Email: ramanan [at] uh [dot] edu

Education

  • B. Tech Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, 1988
  • Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, Princeton University, 1994
  • Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1994-1995
  • Materials Science, Cornell University, 1995-1996

Professional Experience

  • University of Houston, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, 1996-2001
  • University of Houston, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, 2001-2005
  • Rice University, Visiting Faculty of Bioengineering, 2003 Spring
  • University of Houston, Associate Dean for Research, College of Engineering, 2005-2008
  • University of Houston, Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Chemistry, 2005-to date
  • University of Houston, Chair of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, 2008-to date

Research Interests

The goals of my research are to develop materials with tailored properties through a detailed understanding and manipulation of molecular level structure, synthesis and most uniquely processing methodologies. While the importance of structure-property correlations for materials has been recognized, the importance of processing conditions on the evolution of structure and hence properties in the case of soft materials have not been fully understood.

Resulting from the long-chain nature, high viscosities, low diffusion coefficients and rapid vitrification or crystallization, the structure and properties of polymeric materials are significantly affected by their processing. We are pursuing a detailed research program, in collaboration with researchers in industry and national laboratories, to address the role of processing on the structure and properties of multi-phase polymers including polymer blends, block copolymers and microemulsions. Specific research focuses on understanding traditional polyolefin and polydiene materials and developing amphiphilic block, graft and star polymers for a number of technological applications.

The potential for the use of highly anisotropic nanoparticles such as layered silicates and carbon nanotubes dispersed in polymeric matrices promises the ability to develop combinations of physical, mechanical and thermal properties while not increasing weight and thus a new paradigm in materials technology. We have focused our efforts in developing fundamental understanding of the dispersion of the nanoparticles, characterization methodologies that span from the nano to macro length scales, develop correlations to properties and understand how processing can lead to unique microstructures and properties. Specific research focuses on light weighting automobile parts, developing super-strong fibers, strengthened elastomers, materials for fuel cells, longer life lithium ion batteries and improved materials for tissue replacement.

Drug and gene delivery methods are increasingly using bio-inspired membranes as carriers and targeting vehicles. We are currently involved in characterizing and modeling the ability of polymeric materials to provide spatio-temporal stability for such bio-membranes using a range of novel experimental and molecular modeling techniques. Further, we are collaborating with a number of researchers from the medical community in Houston towards the synthesis, characterization and development of delivery vehicles using phospholipids and their polymeric analogs.

Five specific projects that are currently pursued in my research group are:

  • Effect of pressure on the phase behavior of polyolefin blends
  • Polymer crystallinity in bulk and thin films
  • Phase transitions in block copolymers and block copolymer based balanced microemulsions
  • Structure and viscoelasticity of macro- and nano-composites
  • Structure and transport in biopolymers

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Awards and Honors

  • 2008: Fellow, American Physical Society
  • 2006: Journal of Polymer Science: Polymer Physics Prize, John Wiley
  • 2005: Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship, University of Houston
  • 2001–2011: Editorial Board, Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics
  • 2001: Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship, University of Houston
  • 2000: Cullen College of Engineering Junior Faculty Research Award, University of Houston
  • 1999: NSF CAREER Award, Division of Materials Research

Professional Activities

  • Member: American Institute of Chemical Engineers, American Chemical Society, American Physical Society, Materials Research Society, Society of Rheology.
  • Chairman and Co-organizer of dozens of Sessions and Symposia in Technical Meetings.
  • Editorial Board: Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics (2001 – 2006).
  • Consultant: ExxonMobil Chemical Company (1997 – to date); Fina Chemical Company (2000).

Journal Papers / Refereed Journal Publications

  1. Xu, L.; Nakajima, H.; Manias, E.; Krishnamoorti, R.,

    Tailored Nanocomposites of Polypropylene with Layered Silicates. Macromolecules, 42 (11), 3795-3803

    , 2009
  2. Goel, V., Pietrasik, J., Matyjaszewski, K., Krishnamoorti R.,,

    “Linear Viscoelasticity of Polymer Tethered Highly Grafted Nanoparticles,” in Controlled/Living Radical Polymerization: Progress in ATRP, Eds. K. Matyjaszewski, ACS, Washington, Vol. 1023, 257

    , 2009
  3. Jeon, K.; Krishnamoorti, R.,

    Morphological Behavior of Thin Linear Low-Density Polyethylene Films. Macromolecules, 41 (19), 7131- 7140

    , 2008
  4. Chatterjee, T.; Krishnamoorti, R.,

    Steady shear response of carbon nanotube networks dispersed in poly(ethylene oxide). Macromolecules, 41 (14), 5333-5338

    , 2008
  5. Chatterjee, T.; Jackson, A.; Krishnamoorti, R.,

    Hierarchical structure of carbon nanotube networks. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 130 (22), 6934-6935

    , 2008
  6. Chatterjee, T.; Krishnamoorti, R.,

    “Dynamic consequences of the fractal network of nanotube-poly(ethylene oxide) nanocomposites,” Physical Review E, 75, (5), Part 1 - 050403

    , 2007
  7. Heinz, H.; Vaia, R. A.; Krishnamoorti, R.; Farmer, B.,

    “Self-assembly of alkylammonium chains on montmorillonite: Effect of chain length, head group structure, and cation exchange capacity,” L. Chemistry of Materials, 19, (1), 59-68

    , 2007
  8. Krishnamoorti, R.,

    “Strategies for dispersing nanoparticles in polymers,” Mrs Bulletin, 32, (4), 341-347

    , 2007
  9. Mitchell, C. A.; Krishnamoorti, R.,

    “Dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes in poly(ε-caprolactone),” Macromolecules, 40, (5), 1538-1545

    , 2007
  10. Ruegg, M. L.; Reynolds, B. J.; Lin, M. Y.; Lohse, D. J.; Krishnamoorti, R.; Balsara, N. P.,

    “Effect of pressure on a multicomponent A/B/A-C polymer blend with attractive and repulsive interactions,” Macromolecules, 40, (2), 355-365

    , 2007
  11. Krishnamoorti, R. & Vaia R. A.,

    Polymer Nanocomposites. Journal of Polymer Science Part B-Polymer Physics, 45, 3252-3256

    , 2007
  12. Chatterjee, T., Mitchell, C. A., Hadjiev, V. G. & Krishnamoorti, R.,

    Hierarchical polymer-nanotube composites. Advanced Materials, 19, 3850-+

    , 2007
  13. Semler, J. J., Jhon, Y. K., Tonelli, A., Beevers, M., Krishnamoorti, R. & Genzer, J.,

    Facile method of controlling monomer sequence distributions in random copolymers. Advanced Materials, 19, 2877-+

    , 2007
  14. Watanabe, H., Matsumiya, Y., Takada, J., Sasaki, H., Matsushima, Y., Kuriyama, A., Inoue, T., Ahn, K. H., Yu, W. & Krishnamoorti, R.,

    Viscoelastic and dielectric behavior of a polyisoprene/poly(4-tert-butyl styrene) miscible blend. Macromolecules, 40, 5389-5399

    , 2007
  15. Putz, K., Krishnamoorti, R. & Green, P. F.,

    The role of interfacial interactions in the dynamic mechanical response of functionalized SWNT-PS nanocomposites. Polymer, 48, 3540-3545

    , 2007
  16. Goel, V.; Chatterjee, T.; Bombalski, L.; Yurekli, K.; Matyjaszewski, K.; Krishnamoorti, R.,

    “Viscoelastic properties of silica-grafted poly(styrene-acrylonitrile) nanocomposites,” Journal of Polymer Science Part B-Polymer Physics, 44, (14), 2014-2023

    , 2006
  17. Shi, X. F.; Hudson, J. L.; Spicer, P. P.; Tour, J. M.; Krishnamoorti, R.; Mikos, A. G.,

    “Injectable nanocomposites of single-walled carbon nanotubes and biodegradable polymers for bone tissue engineering,” Biomacromolecules, 7, (7), 2237-2242

    , 2006
  18. Taranekar, P.; Abdulbaki, M.; Krishnamoorti, R.; Phanichphant, S.; Waenkaew, P.; Patton, D.; Fulghum, T.; Advincula, R.,

    “Structure and band-gap design of a new series of light-emitting poly(cyanofluorene-alt-o/m/p-phenylenevinylene)-based copolymers for light-emitting diodes,” Macromolecules, 39, (11), 3848-3854

    , 2006
  19. Mitchell, C.A. and R. Krishnamoorti,,

    “Nonisothermal Crystallization Kinetics of In-Situ Polymerized Poly(e-caprolactone) Functionalized- SWNT Nanocomposites,” Polymer, 46, 8796–8804

    , 2005
  20. Shi, X., J.L. Hudson, P.P. Spicer, J.M. Tour, R. Krishnamoorti, and A.G. Mikos,

    “Rheological Behavior and Mechanical Characterization of Injectable Poly(propylene fumarate)/Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Composites for Bone Tissue Engineering,” Nanotechnology, 16, S531–S538

    , 2005
  21. Xu, L., S. Reeder, M. Thopasridharan, J. Ren, D.A. Shipp, and R. Krishnamoorti,

    “Structure and Melt Rheology of Polystyrene Based Layered Silicate Nanocomposites,” Nanotechnology, 16, S514–S521

    , 2005
  22. Yurekli, K., E. Conley and R. Krishnamoorti,

    “Effect of Laponite and a Non-Ionic Polymer on the Absorption Character of Cationic Dye Solutions,” Langmuir, 21, 5825–5830

    , 2005
  23. Chatterjee, T.; Yurekli, K.; Hadjiev, V. G.; Krishnamoorti, R.,

    “Single-walled carbon nanotube dispersions in poly(ethylene oxide),” Advanced Functional Materials, 15, (11), 1832-1838

    , 2005
  24. Hadjiev, V. G.; Mitchell, C. A.; Arepalli, S.; Bahr, J. L.; Tour, J. M.; Krishnamoorti, R.,

    “Segmental dynamics of head-to-head polypropylene and polyisobutylene in their blend and pure components,” Journal of Chemical Physics, 122, (12)

    , 2005
  25. Krygier, E.; Lin, G. X.; Mendes, J.; Mukandela, G.; Azar, D.; Jones, A. A.; Pathak, J. A.; Colby, R. H.; Kumar, S. K.; Floudas, G.; Krishnamoorti, R.; Faust, R.,

    “Segmental dynamics of head-to-head polypropylene and polyisobutylene in their blend and pure components,” Macromolecules, 38, (18), 7721-7729

    , 2005
  26. Yurekli K., Karim A., Amis E. J., and Krishnamoorti R.,

    “Influence Of Layered Silicates On The Phase Separated Morphology Of PS – PVME Blends,” Macromolecules, 37, 507 – 515

    , 2004
  27. Putz K., Mitchell C. A., Krishnamoorti R., Green P. F.,

    “Elastic Modulus of Single – Walled Carbon Nanotube – PMMA Nanocomposites,” J. Polym. Sci. Part B: Polym. Phys., 42, 2286 – 2293

    , 2004
  28. Lincoln D. M., Vaia R. A., Krishnamoorti R.,

    “Morphology Development in Isothermally Crystallized Nylon 6 / Montmorillonite Nancomposites,” Macromolecules, 37, 4554 – 4561

    , 2004
  29. Hsieh A. J., Moy P., Beyer F. L., Madison P., Napadensky, E., Ren J., Krishnamoorti R.,

    “Mechanical response and rheological properties of polycarbonate layered-silicate nanocomposites,” Polymer Engineering and Science, 44, 825 - 837

    , 2004
  30. Ren J., Casanueva B. F., Mitchell C. A., Krishnamoorti R.,

    “Disorientation Kinetics of Aligned Polymer Layered Silicate Nanocomposites,” Macromolecules, 36, 4188 – 4194

    , 2003
  31. Ren J., and Krishnamoorti R.,

    “Non-linear Viscoelastic Properties of Layered-Silicate Based Intercalated Nanocomposite,” Macromolecules, 36, 4443 – 4451

    , 2003
  32. Krishnamoorti R., Rai S., Shek M. B.,

    “Structure and Dynamics of Blends of Diblock Copolymers,” Soft Materials, 1, 263 – 276

    , 2003
  33. Lee J. H., Ruegg M. L., Balsara N. P., Zhu Y., Gido S. P., Krishnamoorti R.,

    “Phase Behavior of Highly Immiscible Polymer Blends Stabilized by Balanced Surfactants,” Macromolecules, 36, 6537 – 6548

    , 2003
  34. Yurekli K., Karim A., Amis E. J., and Krishnamoorti R.,

    “Influence of Layered-Silicates on PS – PVME Blend Phase Behavior,” Macromolecules, 36, 7256 – 7267

    , 2003
  35. Kuppa V., Menakanit S., Krishnamoorti R., Manias E.,

    “Simulation insights on the structure of nanoscopically confined poly(ethylene oxide),” J. Polym. Sci. Part B: Polym. Phys., 41, 3285-3298

    , 2003
  36. Pham J. Q., Mitchell C. A., Bahr J. L., Tour J. M., Krishnamoorti R., Green P. F.,

    “The Glass Transition of Polymer - Single Walled Carbon Nanotube Composite Films,” J. Polym. Sci. Part B: Polym. Phys., 41, 3339 – 3345

    , 2003
  37. Yurekli K., and Krishnamoorti R.,

    “Dynamic of Block Copolymer Micelles,” Macromolecules, 35, 4075 – 4083

    , 2002
  38. Mitchell C. A., and Krishnamoorti R.,

    “Rheological Properties of Diblock Copolymer Layered-Silicate Nanocomposites,” J. Polym. Sci. Part B: Polym. Phys., 40, 1435 – 1443

    , 2002
  39. Krishnamoorti R., Graessley W. W., Zirkel A., Richter D., Fetters L. J., and Lohse D. J.,

    “Melt State Polymer Chain Dimensions as a Function of Temperature,” J. Polym. Sci. Part B: Polym. Phys., 40, 1768 – 1776

    , 2002
  40. Karim A., Yurekli K., Meredith C., Amis E., and Krishnamoorti R.,

    “Combinational Methods for Polymer Materials Science: Phase Behavior of Nanocomposite Blend Films,” Polymer Engineering and Science, 42, 1836 – 1840

    , 2002
  41. Lee J. H., Balsara N. P., Chakraborty A., Krishnamoorti R., and Hammouda B.,

    “Thermodynamics and Phase Behavior of Block Copolymer / Homopolymer Blends with Attractive and Repulsive Interactions,” Macromolecules, 35, 7748 – 7757

    , 2002
  42. Mitchell C. A., Bahr J. L., Arepalli S., Tour J. M., and Krishnamoorti R.,

    “Dispersion of Carbon Nanotubes in Polystyrene,” Macromolecules, 35, 8825 – 8830

    , 2002
  43. K. Yurekli, R. Krishnamoorti, M. F. Tse, K. O. McElrath, A. H. Tsou, and H.-C. Wang,

    “Structure and Dynamics of Carbon Black Filled Elastomers,” J. Polym. Sci. Part B: Polym. Phys., 39, 256

    , 2001
  44. Krishnamoorti R., and Giannelis E. P.,

    “Strain Hardening in Model Polymer Brushes,” Langmuir, 17, 1448

    , 2001
  45. Krishnamoorti R., Ren J., and Silva A. S.,

    “Shear Response of Layered Silicate Nanocomposites,” J. Chemical Physics, 114, 4968

    , 2001
  46. Lee J. H., Balsara N. P., Krishnamoorti R., Jeon H. S., and Hammouda B.,

    “Designing Balanced Surfactants for Mixtures of Immiscible Polymers,” Macromolecules, 34, 6557

    , 2001
  47. Silva A. S., Mitchell C. A., Tse M. F., Wang H. –C., and Krishnamoorti R.,

    “Templating of Cylindrical and Spherical Block Copolymer Microdomains by Layered Silicates,” J. Chemical Physics, 115, 7166

    , 2001
  48. Krishnamoorti R., Mitchell C. A., and Silva A. S.,

    “Effect of Silicate Layer Anisotropy on Cylindrical and Spherical Microdomain Ordering in Block Copolymer Nanocomposites,” J. Chemical Physics, 115, 7175

    , 2001
  49. Lincoln D. M., Vaia R. A., Wang Z. –G., Hsiao B. S., and Krishnamoorti R.,

    “Temperature Dependence of Polymer Crystalline Morphology in Nylon 6/Montmorillonite Nanocomposites,” Polymer, 42, 9975

    , 2001
  50. Vaia R. A., and Krishnamoorti R.,

    “Polymer Nanocomposites: Introduction,” in Polymer Nanocomposites, Eds. R. Krishnamoorti and R. A. Vaia, ACS, Washington, Vol. 804, 1

    , 2001
  51. Mitchell C. A., and Krishnamoorti R.,

    “Influence of Layered-Silicates on the Rheological Properties of Diblock Copolymer Nanocomposites,” in Polymer Nanocomposites, Eds. R. Krishnamoorti and R. A. Vaia, ACS, Washington, Vol. 804, 159

    , 2001
  52. Krishnamoorti R., and Yurekli K.,

    “Rheology of Polymer Layered Silicate Nanocomposites,” Current Opinion in Colloid and Interface Science, 6, 464 – 470

    , 2001
  53. Ren, J., Silva, A. S., and Krishnamoorti, R.,

    “Linear Viscoelasticity of Disordered Polystyrene Polyisoprene Block Copolymer Bases Layered-Silicate Nanocomposites,” Macromolecules, 33, 3739

    , 2000
  54. Krishnamoorti R., Modi, M. A., Tse, M. F., and Wang, H. -C.,

    “Pathway and Kinetics of Cylinder to Sphere Order - Order Transition in Block Copolymers,” Macromolecules, 33, 3803

    , 2000
  55. Krishnamoorti R., Silva, A. S., Modi, M. A., and Hammouda, B.,

    “Small Angle Neutron Scattering Study of a Cylinder to Sphere Order-Order Transition In Block Copolymers,” Macromolecules, 33, 3810

    , 2000
  56. Tse M. F., Wang H. -C., Shaffer T. D., McElrath K. O., Modi M. A., and Krishnamoorti R.,

    “Physical Properties of Isobutylene Based Block Copolymers,” Polymer Engineering & Science, 40, 2182

    , 2000
  57. Manias E., Chen H., Krishnamoorti R., Genzer J., Kramer E. J., and Giannelis E. P.,

    “Intercalation kinetics of long polymers in 2 nm confinements,” Macromolecules, 33, 7955

    , 2000
  58. Krishnamoorti R., and Silva A. S.,

    “Rheological Properties of Polymer Layered-Silicate Nanocomposites,” in Polymer Nanocomposites, Eds. T. J. Pinnavaia and G. Beall, J. Wiley & Sons, New York

    , 2000
  59. Wang H., Newstein M. C., Krishnan A., Balsara N. P., Garetz B. A., Hammouda B., and Krishnamoorti R.,

    “Ordering Kinetics and Alignment of Block Copolymer Lamellae Under Shear Flow,” Macromolecules, 32, 3695

    , 1999
  60. Modi M. A., Krishnamoorti R., Tse M. F., and Wang H. -C.,

    “Viscoelastic Characterization Of An Order – Order Transition In A Mixture Of Di And Tri Block Copolymers,” Macromolecules, 32, 4088

    , 1999
  61. Lefebvre A., Lee J. H., Balsara N. P., Hammouda B., Krishnamoorti R., and Kumar S.,

    “Relationship between Internal Energy and Volume Change of Mixing in Pressurized Polymer Blends,” Macromolecules, 32, 5460

    , 1999
  62. Lohse D. J., Garner, R. T., Graessley, W. W., and Krishnamoorti, R.,

    “Miscibility of Blends of Saturated Hydrocarbon Elastomers,” Rubber Chemistry and Technology, 72, 572

    , 1999
  63. Krishnamoorti R.,

    “Thermodynamic Interactions in Blends of Polydienes,” Rubber Chemistry and Technology, 72, 580

    , 1999

Books

  1. Ed. I. Ovid’ko, C.S.Pande, R. Krishnamoorti, E. Lavernia, and G. Skandan.,

    Mechanical Properties of Nanostructured Materials and Nanocomposites, Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, Vol. 783, MRS, Warrendale, PA

    , 2004
  2. Ed. Nakatani A. I., Hjelm R. P., Gerspacher M., and Krishnamoorti R.,

    Filled and Nanocomposite Polymer Materials, Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, Vol. 661, MRS, Warrendale, PA

    , 2001
  3. Ed. Krishnamoorti R., and Vaia R. A.,

    Polymer Nanocomposites – Synthesis, Characterization and Modeling, ACS Symposium Series, Vol. 804, ACS, Washington DC

    , 2001

Patents

  1. Wang, Hsien-Chang; Krishnamoorti, Ramanan; Tse, Mun F.; Dias, Anthony J.; Chung, David Y.; Galuska, Alan A, Butyl nanocomposite via low Mw elastomer pre-blend, US Patent 7,638,573
    12/29/2009
  2. Gong, Caiguo; Dias, Anthony Jay; Weng, Weiqing; Krishnamoorti, Ramanan; Neagu, Carmen; Johnston, Molly Westermann; Poole, Beverly Jean; Karp, Kriss Randall., Nanocomposite compositions and processes for making the same, US Patent # 7,605,205
    10/20/2009
  3. Tse, Mun Fu; Wang, Hsien-Chang; Krishnamoorti, Ramanan; and Tsou, Andy H, Polymer blend compatibilization using isobutylene-based block copolymers II, US Patent # 7,119,146
    10/10/2006
  4. Tse, Mun Fu; Wang, Hsien-Chang; Agarwal, Pawan K.; and Krishnamoorti, Ramanan; Thermoplastic compositions for halogenated elastomers, US Patent # 6,825,281
    11/30/2004
  5. Tse, Mun Fu; Wang, Hsien-Chang; Krishnamoorti, Ramanan; and Tsou, Andy H.; Polymer blend compatibilization using isobutylene-based block copolymers, US Patent # 6,462,131
    10/08/2002