Five undergraduate researchers from the Irvin Research Group received their B.S. degrees in May 2022. From left to right: Zeke Montes, Gabriel Pohlman, Venus Stanton, Carter Cunningham, Grace Haya, and Dr. Irvin. Congratulations!
RESEARCH
Irvin Group research is focused on electroactive polymers, that is polymers that change their properties in the presence of an electric field. They are useful for sensors, charge storage, drug delivery, static dissipation, corrosion inhibition, actuators, and electrochromics, among other things. We are particularly interested in:
Undergraduate student Jose Garcia purifying a new compound
- functionalizing electroactive polymers with biomolecules for use as biosensors.
- using nanoscale templating approaches to enhance electroactivity.
- synthesis of novel n-doping polymers with enhanced stability.
- using electroactive polymers for nerve regeneration.
- improving understanding of ion movement into and out of electroactive polymers in an electric field and using that understanding to improve polymer properties.
- preparation of high molecular weight, soluble electroactive polymers.
- electrospinning to form electroactive polymer nanofibers.
STUDENT TRAINING
The Irvin Research Group is home to undergraduate, masters, and doctoral students. Students in the group have the opportunity to develop a broad range of useful laboratory capabilities including:
Dr. Betancourt, Travis Cantu (doctoral student, Betancourt/Irvin labs) and Dr. Irvin with their joint poster at a National Science Foundation meeting, Washington DC.
- Synthesis of novel organic molecules such as functionalized heterocycles
- Polymerization (oxidative, non-oxidative, electrochemical)
- Standard organic and polymer characterization techniques
- Electrochemical characterization
- Polymer electrospinning
- Device fabrication and testing
- Nanoparticle manipulation and characterization