The faculty in Chemical Engineering offer a wide range of research opportunities. Projects are both experimental and theoretical in nature, emphasizing fundamental engineering principles applied to problems at the forefront of the chemical, petroleum, energy, microelectronics, materials, and biotechnology and life science industries. The complexity of these systems requires a wide range of experimental techniques for characterization and property measurements.
Polymer electrolytes have potential as the next generation of light-weight batteries.
At Penn studies involve characterization of electrolyte structure and measurements of ion diffusion in the melt. The properties of polymer surfaces are also important in many applications. These properties are currently the focus of a series of investigations in which the vibrational and electronic properties of polymer surfaces and then films are being studied. Polymers at interfaces control adhesion, welding, wetting, and colloidal behavior. Several research projects are currenlty involved in studying these interfacial properties of polymers.