Welcometo the Tsapatsis Research Group Website

Professor Tsapatsis's research group is housed in the department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science at the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities. The focus of our work is in demonstrating innovative processing strategies for engineering functional devices and microstructures. Our recent publications focus on molecular sieve synthesis, crystal structure elucidation, pattern formation, morphology control, and incorporation in engineering devices. Our work is strengthened by substantial industrial interactions. Take a closer look at our research!

Alex Lee shares Eastman Chemical Award31 May 2008

Eastman Chemical recently sponsored a contest within the department for a research proposal in a field related to coatings technology, coinciding with the annual IPrime (Industrial Partnership for Research in Interfacial and Materials Engineering) review meeting in which Eastman Chemical participates. The award was shared between Christine Cardinal (L. Francis research group) and Alex for respective work in latex/binder particle segregation in drying wet film coatings and nanoparticle convective assembly.

Prof. Tsapatsis receives George W. Taylor Award02 June 2008

Professor Tsapatsis received the George W. Taylor Award for 2008, granted by the University of Minnesota Institute of Technology. The award was established in 1982 to recognize younger faculty members who have shown outstanding ability in research.

Prof. Tsapatsis receives Stine Award7 November 2007

Professor Tsapatsis was awarded the Charles M. A. Stine Award, which is bestowed annually to a leading researcher in recognition of outstanding contributions to the field of materials science and engineering. The Stine Award is sponsored by E.I. duPont de Nemours & Co.

On the cover of Langmuir25 September 2007

"Silica Nanoparticle Crystals and Ordered Coatings Using Lys-Sil and a Novel Coating Device" appears in Langmuir, The ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids 23(20) (see publications) featuring cover art submitted by the authors. Whether or not by accident, the cover's main colors are maroon and gold--our school colors! (click on image to enlarge)

Congratulations recent grads!31 August 2007

Maybelle Woo and Tracy Davis have recently graduated from the group. Dr. Woo studied polymer/molecular sieve composite membranes for gas and vapor separations, and Dr. Davis studied the growth and crystallization of silica nanoparticles from zeolite precursor solutions and the mechanisms involved in membrane synthesis.

Crystal Sieves, Born Anew17 April 2006

In NSF news "...Now, however, a team of chemists, engineers and mathematicians, using some of the most advanced microscopes in the research arsenal, has uncovered new details for the step-by-step evolution from molecular soup to carefully engineered zeolite crystal..." read more!

Sowing The Seeds Of Oriented Films27 February 2006

In Chemical & Engineering News "...Zeolite films in particular hold promise for practical applications, but their fabrication imposes challenges, including control of thickness, grain size, and pore orientation," says Michael Tsapatsis, professor of chemical engineering and materials science at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities..." read more!

© 2008 J. Alex Lee / the Tsapatsis research group.

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