Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry, 1991. The Ohio State University, Columbus (Adviser: P. L. Jones). Thesis Research Performed at Argonne National Laboratory (with D. M. Gruen, M. J. Pellin). Dissertation Title: Electron-Stimulated Desorption from Aluminum Surfaces. B.S. (Double Major) in Chemistry and Mathematics, 1985. Magna Cum Laude Graduate. The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL

Physical & materials chemistry at surfaces & interfaces

The Whitten Research Group is interested in physical chemistry at surfaces and interfaces. Research projects include polymer/metal interfaces for organic light-emitting diodes and organic photovoltaic devices. Other active projects include optically studying surface diffusion for heteroepitaxy applications and electron-induced polymerization investigations of condensed conjugated molecules. Dr. Whitten is also a member of the Center for Advanced Materials.

"Thiol Dosing of ZnO(0001) and ZnO Nanorods: Surface Chemistry and Photoluminescence", J. Singh, J. Im, E.J. Watters, J.E. Whitten, J.W. Soares, D.M. Steeves, in preparation.

"Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide adsorption on zinc oxide and zirconium hydroxide nanoparticles and the effect on photoluminescence", J. Singh, A. Mukherjee, S.K. Sengupta, J. Im, G.W. Peterson, J.E. Whitten, Appl. Surf. Sci., submitted.

"Synthesis and Optical Properties of Dithiol-Linked ZnO/Gold Nanoparticle Composites", J. Im, J. Singh, J.W. Soares, D.M. Steeves, J.E. Whitten, J. Phys. Chem. C, 115, 10518-10523 (2011).

"A Hybrid Chemiresistive Sensor System for the Detection of Organic Vapors", J. Im, S.K. Sengupta, M. Baruch, C.D. Granz, S. Ammu, S.K. Manohar, J.E. Whitten, Sens. Actuators B: Chem, 156, 715-722 (2011)

"Thiol Adsorption on Metal Oxides: An Approach for Selective Deposition on Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles", J.W. Soares, D.M. Steeves, J. Singh, J. Im, J.E. Whitten, Proc. of SPIE, 7940, 76400K-1 (2011).

"Directed Adhesion and Patterning by Ultraviolet Irradiation of TiO2(110)", J. Singh, J.E. Whitten, Langmuir, 26, 17795-17797 (2010).

"Effect of Surface Modification on the Optical Properties of Nanocrystallne Zinc Oxide Materials", J.W. Soares, D.M. Steeves, J. Singh, J. Im, J.E. Whitten, Proc. of SPIE, 7603, 76031L:1-9 (2010).

"Chemisorption of a Thiol-Functionalized Ru-Dye on Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Implications for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells", J. Singh, J. Im, J.E. Whitten, J.W. Soares, D.M. Steeves, Chem. Phys. Lett., 497, 196-199 (2010).

"Photometer for Monitoring the Thickness of Inkjet Printed Films for Organic Electronic and Sensor Applications", J. Im, S.K. Sengupta, J.E. Whitten, Rev. Sci. Instr., 81, 034103 (2010).

"Thermal Stability of Thiol and Silane Monolayers: A Comparative Study", A. Chandekar, S.K. Sengupta, J.E. Whitten, Appl. Surf. Sci., 256, 2742-2749 (2010).

"Encapsulation of Zinc Oxide Nanorods and Nanoparticles", J. Singh, J. Im, J.E. Whitten, J.W. Soares, D.M. Steeves, Langmuir, 25, 9947-9953 (2009).

"Potassium Deposition on a Thiophene-Terminated Alkanethiol Monolayer", H. Ahn and J.E. Whitten, J. Electron Spectrosc. Rel. Phenom., 172, 107-113 (2009).

"Peptide Surface Modification of P(HEMA-co-MMA)-b-PIB-b-P(HEMA-co-MMA) Block Copolymers", U. Ojha, D. Feng, A. Chandekar, J.E. Whitten, R. Faust, Langmuir, 25, 6319-6327 (2009).

"Anomalous Vapor Sensor Response of a Fluorinated Alkylthiol-Protected Gold Nanoparticle Film", J. Im and J.E. Whitten, Langmuir, 25, 4288-4292 (2009).

"Energy Level Pinning in Self-Assembled Alkanethiol Monolayers", Y. Ge, T. Weidner, H. Ahn, J.E. Whitten, M. Zharnikov, J. Phys. Chem. C, 113, 4575-4583 (2009).

"Adsorption of 3-Mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane on Silicon Oxide Surfaces and Adsorbate Interaction with Thermally Deposited Gold", J. Singh and J.E. Whitten, J. Phys. Chem. C, 112, 19088-19096 (2008).

"Forces between Polymer Surfaces and Self-Assembled Monolayers", J. Singh and J.E. Whitten, J. Macromol. Sci. Pure Appl. Chem. A, 45, 884-891 (2008).

"Adsorption of Mercaptosilanes on Nanocrystalline and Single Crystal Zinc Oxide Surfaces", J. Singh, J. Im, J.E. Whitten, J.W. Soares, A.M. Meehan, D.M. Steeves, Proc. of SPIE, 7030, 70300T: 1-8 (2008).

"Novel Photoluminescence Properties of Surface-Modified Nanocrystalline Zinc Oxide: Towards a Reactive Scaffold", J.W. Soares, J.E. Whitten, D.W. Oblas, D.M. Steeves, Langmuir, 24, 371-374 (2008).

"Interfacial Electronic Properties of Thiophene and Sexithiophene Adsorbed on a Fluorinated Alkanethiol Monolayer", Y. Ge and J.E. Whitten, J. Phys. Chem. C, 112, 1174-1182 (2008).