B.Sc., Western Washington University M.Sc. & Ph.D., University of Washington Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University

Surface and Materials Chemistry

The Surface and Interfacial Chemistry of Materials

We are harnessing the potential of nanoscale materials through the ability to tune their surface and interfacial chemistries. This research includes advancing our understanding and control of chemical modifications to the surfaces of nanoscale materials. We are also developing techniques to facilitate new reactions and chemical transformations at the surfaces of nanoscale materials.

We are advancing materials designs with applications in catalysis, electrochemical sensing, controlled delivery and release of therapeutics, bioinspired adhesives, and bioinspired coatings. Through this research we seek to facilitate the development of cost effective hydrogen and methanol fuel cell catalysts, functional materials and coatings with an improved durability, new therapeutics for the management of cancer, methods to safely work with nanoscale materials, as well as sensors with an increased sensitivity and selectivity for use in portable medical diagnostics.

Students in the Gates Research Group acquire hands-on experience in the synthesis and characterization of nanoscale materials. We typically use a series of electron microscopy, scanning probe microscopy, surface spectroscopy, and diffraction techniques to characterize the composition and form of the nanostructures. Students may also develop skills in micro- and nanofabrication to pattern materials, to prepare microfluidic and electronic devices, to direct the self-assembly of nanostructures, and to measure the physical properties of these nanostructures.

110. "Hexagonal Arrays of Cylindrical Nickel Microstructures for Improved Oxygen Evolution Reaction," Paul, M.T.Y.; Yee, B.B.; Bruce, D.R.; Gates, B.D., ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2017, 9 (8), 7036-7043. 109. "Tuning Oleophobicity of Silicon Oxide Surfaces with Mixed Monolayers of Aliphatic and Fluorinated Alcohols," Lee, A.W.H.; Gates, B.D., Langmuir, 2016, 32 (49), 13030-13039. 108. "Rapid Covalent Modification of Silicon Oxide Surfaces through Microwave Assisted Reactions with Alcohols," Lee, A.W.H.; Gates, B.D., Langmuir, 2016, 32 (29), 7284–7293. 107. "Hierarchical Surface Coatings of Polystyrene Nanofibers and Silica Microparticles with Rose Petal Wetting Properties," Paul, M.T.Y.; Gates, B.D., Colloids Surf., A, 2016, 498, 42-49. 106. "Improved Adhesion and Compliancy of Hierarchical Fibrillar Adhesives," Li, Y.; Gates, B.D.; Menon, C., ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2015, 7 (30), 16410-16417. 105. "Optimization of the Synthesis of n-Phthalimidoalkylthiols as Precursors for ω-Aminoalkylthiols as Prepared by Undergraduate Chemistry Students," Merbouh, N.; Bakhtiari, A. B. S.; Hsiao, D.; Gates, B.D., Chem. Educator, 2015, 20, 138-143. 104. "Harnessing Tunable Scanning Probe Techniques to Measure Shear Enhanced Adhesion of Gecko-Inspired Fibrillar Arrays," Li, Y.; Zhou, J.; Zhang, C.; Menon, C.; Gates, B.D., ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2015, 7 (4), 2340-2348. 103. "Self-Assembly of Nanoparticles onto the Surfaces of Polystyrene Spheres with a Tunable Composition and Loading," Pilapil, B.K.; Wang, M.C.P.; Paul, M.T.Y.; Nazemi, A.; Gates, B. D., Nanotechnology, 2015, 26, 055601. 102. "Microwave Assisted Formation of Monoreactive Perfluoroalkylsilane-based Self-Assembled Monolayers," Lee, W.; Kinkead, B.; Ng, H.W.; Gates, B.D., Chem. Commun., 2015, 51, 2060-2063. 101. "Simultaneous Patterning of Two Different Types of Nanoparticles into Alternating Domains of a Striped Array of a Polymer Blend in a Single Spin-Casting Step," Harirchian-Saei, S.; Wang, M.C.P.; Gates, B.D.; Moffitt, M., J. Colloid Interface Sci., 2014, 433C, 123-132. 100. "Electrochemically Active Nickel Foams as Support Materials for Nanoscopic Platinum Electrocatalysts," van Drunen, J.; Pilapil, B.; Makonnen, Y.; Beauchemin, D.; Gates, B.D.; Jerkiewicz, G., ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2014, 6(15), 12046-12061. 99. "A Proposed Mechanism of the Influence of Gold Nanoparticles on DNA Hybridization," Sedighi, A.; Li, P.C.H.,* Pekcevik, I.C.; Gates, B.D., ACS Nano, 2014, 8(7), 6765-6777. 98. "Material Versatility Using Replica Molding for Large-Scale Fabrication of High Aspect-Ratio, High Density Arrays of Nano-Pillars," Li, Y.; Ng, H.-W.; Gates, B.D.; Menon, C., Nanotechnology, 2014, 25, 285303. 97. "Colloidal Core-Shell Materials with ‘Spiky’ Surfaces Assembled from Gold Nanorods," Guo, I.W.; Pekcevik, I.C.; Wang, M.C.P.; Kinkead, B.; Gates, B.D., Chem. Commun., 2014, 50 (60), 8157-8160. 96. "Determining Adhesion of Non-Uniform Arrays of Fibrils," Zhang, C.; Zhou J. H.-W.; Sameoto, D.; Zhang, X.; Li, Y.; Ng, H. W.; Menon, C.; Gates, B. D.,* J. Adhesion Sci. Technol., 2014, 28 (3-4), 320-336. (invited manuscript) 95. "Ordered Porous Gold Electrodes to Enhance the Sensitivity of Enzyme-Based Glucose Sensors," Paul, M.T.Y.; Kinkead, B.; Gates, B.D., J. Electrochem. Soc., 2014, 161 (2), B3103-B3106. 94. "SU-8 and PDMS-based Hybrid Fabrication Technology for Combination of Permanently Bonded Flexible and Rigid Features on a Single Device," Patel, J.N.; Gray, B.L.; Kaminska, B.; Wu, N.-C.; Gates, B.D., J. Micromech. Microeng. 2013, 23, 065029. 93. "Comprehensive Structural, Surface-Chemical and Electrochemical Characterization of Nickel-Based Metallic Foams," van Drunen, Julia; Kinkead, Brandy; Wang, Michael; Sourty, Erwan; Gates, Byron D.; Jerkiewicz, Gregory, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2013, 5 (14), 6712-6722. 92. "Platinum Ordered Porous Electrodes: Developing a Platform for Fundamental Electrochemical Characterization," Kinkead, Brandy; van Drunen, Julia; Paul, Michael T.Y.; Dowling, Katie; Jerkiewicz, Gregory; Gates, Byron D., Electrocatalysis, 2013, 4 (3), 179-186. 91. "Surface-Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization Induced Transformation of Selenium Nanowires into Copper Selenide@Polystyrene Core-Shell Nanowires," Wang, Michael C.P.; Gates, Byron D., ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2013, 5 (19), 9546-9553.