Robert Bernard (Barney) Grubbs
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Professor Grubbs received his B.A. degree in Chemistry from Pomona College in 1993. He received M.S. (1995) and Ph.D. (1998) degrees in polymer chemistry from Cornell University with Professor J. M. J. Fréchet and then carried out postdoctoral research in the labs of Frank Bates in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science at the University of Minnesota, where he was exposed to the more physical aspects of polymer science. Professor Grubbs joined the faculty at Dartmouth in August 2001.
PHONE: (603) 646-9096
FAX: (603) 646-3946
Courses:
Chemistry 58 (Organic Chemistry) Webpage
Chemistry 109 (Polymer Chemistry) Webpage
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Research Interests
I am interested in the common ground shared by polymer, organic, and materials chemistry and aim to develop a comprehensive research program involving the design, synthesis, and characterization of polymer-based organic materials. Principles of polymer physics provide a basis for understanding the basics of copolymer self-assembly in the bulk and in solution. This knowledge provides useful ideas for the design of novel polymers and copolymers that will organize into predictable arrangements on the nanometer scale. Such assemblies are predicted to exhibit novel properties in a range of possible applications. Inspiration for design of these polymeric systems will also be taken from biological systems.
The combination of living anionic, free radical, and cationic polymerization methods can provide access to many possible polymeric structures, and many techniques of organic chemistry are applicable to the modification of these polymers for the preparation of an even larger variety of materials: these techniques are being utilized to realize specifically designed polymeric architectures. Synthesis of these materials is the major focus of the research program, and provides students with experience in many synthetic techniques. Characterization of these materials by established methods (i.e., small-angle scattering, electron microscopy, etc.) at both the molecular level and in states of higher order will also be carried out.
Representative research projects being undertaken are outlined below. Each involves the use of living free radical polymerization techniques in combination with initiator and/or monomer synthesis for the creation of novel polymers that should exhibit interesting self-assembly behavior in solution and in bulk.
1. Stimulus-Induced Morphological Transformation of Ternary Copolymer Micelles: The micellar form which amphiphilic block copolymers adopt in water is strongly governed by the relative volumes of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic blocks. The preparation of triblock copolymers with the hydrophilic and hydrophobic end blocks typical of amphiphilic block copolymers, but with a central block which exhibits condition-dependent water-solubility, will be targeted. Adjustment of the hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance in these polymeric systems should lead to interesting stimulus-induced changes in micellar form, which will be studied by techniques such as light scattering and small-angle x-ray scattering (Scheme 1).
| 2. Incorporation of Metallic Nanoparticles into Polymeric Matrices: In collaboration with other members of the Dartmouth Molecular Materials Group, multiblock copolymers wherein different blocks and utilized to specifically stabilize the formation of ordered arrays of nanoparticles composed of different metals will be prepared. |  |