Robert Hurt
Professor:
Engineering
Phone: +1 401 863 2685
Robert_Hurt@brown.edu
Professor Hurt's research focuses on nanotechnologies and their environmental and biological applications and implications. His group synthesizes carbon, silver, and selenium-based nanomaterials through colloidal and supramolecular routes, and tailors their surface chemistry to promote or suppress interactions with biological structures. Current emphasis is on nanotoxicology, the formulation of safe nanomaterials, graphene and carbon nanotube processing, and nanomaterial-based technologies for the capture of environmental toxicants.
Biography
Professor Hurt received his Ph.D. from M.I.T. in 1987 and before joining Brown held positions in the Central Research and Development Division of Bayer AG in Leverkusen, Germany, and at Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore, California. During 2002 he was a visiting professor at the University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He currently serves as Editor of the materials science journal CARBON, and is on the editorial boards of Progress in Energy and Combustion Science and Combustion and Flame. He served as Technical Program Chair for the international conference, Carbon2004, and in the same year received the Graffin Lecture Award of the American Carbon Society, which included a North American lecture series on carbon nanomaterials given during 2004 and 2005. Prof. Hurt also received the Silver Medal of the Combustion Institute in Naples, Italy in 1996 and an NSF CAREER Award in the same year. He is a scientific founder of the environmental start-up firm Aspen Sciences. He currently serves as PI on the GAANN training grant "Interdisciplinary Training in the Applicatinos and Implications of Nanotechnology", and is the Director of Brown's Institute for Molecular and Nanoscale Innovation.
Interests
Professor Hurt's research focuses on nanotechnologies and their environmental and biological applications and implications. His group synthesizes graphenic carbon, silver, and selenium-based materials and nanomaterials through colloidal and supramolecular routes, and tailors their surface chemistry to promote or suppress interactions with biological structures. Current emphasis is on nanotoxicology, the formulation of safe nanomaterials, graphene and carbon nanotube processing, and nanomaterial-based technologies for the capture of environmental toxicants. A brief discussion of these main research themes is found below.
Nanotoxicology
A major thrust in the laboratory at this time is the study of the human health impacts of manufactured nanomaterials. The nation has invested heavily in the development of new nanomaterials, which are currently serving as a materials tool kit for the development of a vast array of new technologies. The potential human health impacts of these nanomaterials is not fully understood and is an area of intense worldwide research at this time. In collaboration with the biological laboratories of Agnes Kane, David Rand, and Diane Lipscombe laboratories, we are studying nanomaterial interactions with cells, cellular substractures (membranes and ion channels), and whole organisms (Drosophila).
The group is synthesizing and characterizing model nanomaterials based on carbon, silver, and selenium, with precise control of size, shape, hydrophobicity, and metals form/content to identify those nanomaterial features ultimately responsible for toxic responses. The samples are subjected to cellular and molecular assays that include metal mobilization and redox activity, cell viability, DNA damage and antioxidant destruction. The long term goal is to identify synthesis and purification proceedures that minimize human health impacts. We are striving for "green" nanomaterials that have been co-optimized for human health impacts and material performance.
Biological and Environmental Applications
The Hurt laboratory is developing a nano-selenium-based technology for capture of mercury release from compact fluorescent lamps. The technology uses reactive barriers of unstabilized amorphous nSe for high efficiency room-temperature reaction with elemental mercury vapor. The laboratory is also collaborating with the Kane laboratory to develop carbon-selenium composites for treatment of mesothelioma.
Carbon Nanomaterials
Another activity in the laboratory is the synthesis and characterization of novel carbon nanoforms from liquid crystalline precursors. This laboratory has pioneered techniques for the molecular control of carbon structure using surface-directed assembly of disk-like polyaromatic compounds. Confining discotic liquid crystals in nanospaces yields unique supramolecular fluid structures that can be quenched into functional organic solids or polymerized into carbon materials. Choosing the template material and geometry gives precise molecular control of crystal structure and interfaces, and can be used to fabricate optimal nanocarbon forms for fuel cells, batteries, sensors, and nanocomposites. Additional projects focus on the assembly of lyotropic liquid crystals into carbon nanotubes, nanoribbons, and birefringent carbon thin films. We are also using the tools of photolithography to form micropatterns of molecular orientation in discotic organic films. The group is also interestesd in the order/diorder phase transitions, wetting, spreading, and surface anchoring of polyaromatic compounds to understand the fundamental molecular interactions that drive these directed assembly processes. The newest topic in the group is the use of fine metal catalyst particles to etch complex patterns or pores in graphene and carbon thin films. The work includes the use of magnetic catalyst particles whose etch tracks can be steered through the application of external magnetic fields.
Awards
Graffin Lecture Award of the American Carbon Society, 2004-2005
Silver Medal of the Combustion Institute, 1996
National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 1996
Outstanding poster presentation, Gordon Research Conference
on Hydrocarbon Resources - 2001,2003
National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship, 1983-1986
Bredekamp Award at Michigan Technological University, 1982
Chevron Scholarship at Michigan Technological University, 1981
Affiliations
American Chemical Society
American Carbon Society
Materials Research Society
The Combustion Institute
Aspen Sciences, scientific founder
Teaching
Prof. Hurt teaches thermodynamics, and advanced undergraduate courses in the chemical engineering program. He has co-developed with Agnes Kane a graduate course in nanotechnology with an emphasis on nanomaterials and the biological applications and human health impacts entitled Small Wonders.
