UCLA NanoMeTeR Laboratory Research Activities

Our research interests arise from the fundamental societal need for more sustainable approaches to manage the world's critical water, energy, food, and human health demands. Many of these problems must be solved over the next generation.

In pursuit of solutions to these ‘grand challenges’, our research begins with a fundamental understanding of colloidal and interfacial phenomena, which includes:

1. Mechanisms and models describing the interfacial transport phenomena that governs fluid, solute, and particle motion in flowing systems
   

2. Mechanisms and models describing the intermolecular/interfacial forces that govern particle aggregation, deposition, and adhesion as well as polymer synthesis, dispersion, and precipitation
   

3. Classical colloidal characterization techniques for elucidating the physical-chemical properties of polymers, nanoparticles, natural colloids, and biological cells
   

4. Classical microscopic (TEM/SEM/AFM) and spectroscopic (EDAX, FTIR, XRD, XPS) techniques for characterizing morphology and chemistry of polymers, nanoparticles, natural colloids, and biological cells
   

5. Advanced microscopic techniques for directly observing particle deposition onto engineered substrates or the kinetics of polymer film formation, in addition to direct measurement of interfacial forces
   

We apply these fundamentals to the exploration of three technology platforms:

Membrane materials and processes

1. Formation and characterization of polymeric membranes
   

2. Transport through membranes, modules, and systems
   

3. Reverse osmosis membranes, modules, and processes
   

4. Filtration membranes, modules, and processes
   

5. Forward osmosis membranes, modules, and processes
   

6. Fundamental studies of membrane fouling, scaling and cleaning
   

Electrokinetic and electrochemical processes

1. Electrokinetic methods for characterizing polymeric membranes
   

2. Electrochemical oxidation, coagulation, and precipitation
   

3. Electro-filtration for high resolution membrane separations
   

Advanced materials and nanotechnology

1. Synthesis and characterization of metal and zeolite nanocrystals
   

2. Synthesis of nanocomposite membranes and coating films
   

3. Mechanisms of nanoparticle toxicity and anti-microbial activity
   

Examples of the practical applications and processes that interest us and motivate our research include:

1. Forward and reverse osmosis processes for ocean and brackish water desalination plus advanced purification of wastewater for reuse/recycle
   

2. Anti-fouling, anti-microbial and self-cleaning coating films for water treatment membranes and biomedical implants
   

3. Advanced ultrafiltration membranes and modules for high-resolution protein purification, blood filtration/sterilization, and kidney dialysis
   

4. Remediation of oil and metal contaminated waters (e.g., industrial wastewaters, polluted aquifers, produced waters)
   

5. Reverse electrodialysis and pressure retarded osmosis processes for salinity gradient energy production - producing clean, renewable energy from water
   

6. Highly adaptive, hybrid electrochemical processes for remediation of polluted waters and industrial wastewater treatment/resource reclamation
   

Return to top

Back to UCLA CEE or UCLA CEE Hoek websites...