René M. Overney
Associate Professor
Contact Information
| 245 Benson Box 351750 Seattle, WA 98195-1750 |
Phone: 206-543-4353 Fax: 206-543-3778 E-mail: roverney@u.washington.edu |
Education
Ph.D. University of Basel (Switzerland), 1992.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Exxon (CR), 1994.
For more information, please see Dr. Overney's Personal Home Page
Research Interests
- Basic Research
- Material research of nano-constrained systems with focus on transport properties (mass, momentum, and electronic) in organic and organic/inorganic hybrid materials.
- Instrumental
- Pioneering scanning probe tools.
- Applications
- Tribology (lubrication, adhesion)
- Interfacial compatibilization
- Electronics
- Ultrahigh density mass storage
- Fuel cell.
Nanoscale Surface Science and Polymer Rheology
Developments of technology are becoming more and more challenging because we are approaching the inherent limitations in materials. Within the scientific community, there is considerable effort being directed towards understanding the physical and chemical properties of interfaces and surfaces of thin films. In particular, on the submicrometer scale within the field of polymers and tribology (friction, wear, and adhesion), it has been recognized that surface mechanical and rheological properties, surface structures, and interfacial interactions are of great importance to improve reaction rates, energy efficiencies (e.g., fuel efficiency), etc.
One of today's most promising techniques in studying surfaces on the submicrometer scale is the scanning probe microscope (SPM). The SPM derives from the scanning tunneling microscope (STM), the first real-space imaging tool with the capability of atomic-scale resolution. From the STM, a huge variety of other SPMs originated-such as the scanning force microscope (SFM) and the scanning near field optical microscope (SNOM).
With the SFM and the SNOM, we study surface confined complex fluids and ultrathin polymeric films. As one of the pioneers in the field of nanoscale viscoelasticity and calorimetry, we explore surface induced phase transformation of complex rheological systems. Applications of such research include process at polymeric thin films and through thin membrane systems, and lubrication issues. The application spectrum is enormous and, fundamentally, very challenging.
Selected Recent Publications
(see also http://depts.washington.edu/nanolab/publications.htm )
"Interfacial Properties on the Submicron Scale," eds. J. Frommer, R.M. Overney, ACS Symposium Series 781, Oxford University Press (2001).
E. Meyer, R. Overney, K. Dransfeld, and T. Gyalog, "NanoScience: Friction and Rheology on the Nanometer Scale," World Scientific Publ., Singapore, (1998).
R.M. Overney, C. Buenviaje, R. Luginbuehl, and F. Dinelli, "Glass and Structural Transitions measured at Polymer Surfaces on the Nanoscale," J. Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 59, 205-225 2000.
S.Ge, Y. Pu. W. Zhang, M. Rafailovich, J. Sokolov, C. Buenviaje, R. Buckmaster, and R.M. Overney, "Shear Modulation Force Microscopy Study of Near Surface Glass Transition Temperatures," Phys. Rev. Lett., 85, 2340-2343 (2000).
F. Dinelli, C.K. Buenviaje, and R.M. Overney, "Glass Transition of Thin Polymeric Films: Speed and Load Dependence of Detection by Lateral Force Microscopy," J. Chem. Phys., 113, 2043-2048 (2000).
M. He, Amy Szuchmacher, E. Aston, C. Buenviaje, R. Luginbuehl, and R.M. Overney, "Capillary Force Transitions of Ultrathin Vapor Condensation Films Studied by Scanning Force Microscopy," J. Chem. Phys., 114 (3): 1355-1360 (2001).
R. Lugenb|hl, Amy Szuchmacher, M.D. Garrison, J-B. Lhoest, R.M. Overney, and B. D. Ratner, "Comprehensive surface analysis of hydrophobically functionalized SFM tips," Ultramicroscopy, 82 171-179 (2000).
G. Xomeritakis, A. Gouzinis, S. Nair, T. Okubo, M. He, R.M. Overney, and M. Tsapatsis, "Growth, Microstructure, and Permeation Properties of Supported Zeolite (MFI) Films Membranes Prepared by Secondary Growth," Chem. Eng. Sci., 54, 3521-3531 (1999).
Recent M.S. Theses
Recent Ph.D. Dissertations
