Matthew Jones
Gene and Norman Hackerman Junior Chair
Norman Hackerman-Welch Young Investigator
Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Materials Science and NanoEngineering
SURF Mentoring
Potential projects/topics: Developing chemical control and understanding of the synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles. Nanomaterials have novel properties as a function of their size and various methods have been developed for their fabrication. However, virtually all of these approaches lack a detailed mechanistic understanding of their synthesis, which is necessary for predictive control over their size and shape. This project will leverage basic chemical methods to interrogate solution-phase nanoparticle syntheses and gain improved understanding of their formation processes.
Potential skills gained: Basic laboratory techniques, NMR, mass spectrometry, electron microscopy, oral presentation, scientific writing, graphic design skills.
Required qualifications: General Chemistry or equivalent introductory course in Materials Science or Chemical Engineering.
Direct mentor: Graduate Student
Student Project Titles List
Mapping Selective Binding of Surface Ligands on Anisotropic Gold Prisms​
Research Areas
The Jones Lab at Rice University takes a systems approach to nanoparticle assembly - in addition to understanding assembled materials as a function of their constituent parts (e.g. nanoparticles, ligands, atoms), we also consider the influence of collective properties and higher-order effects (e.g. dimensionality, curvature, particle interactions). These systems-level phenomena allow for the creation of new forms of inorganic matter that are structurally reconfigurable, experience positive and negative feedback, and are constantly evolving over time in response to external stimuli. This holistic and hierarchical approach requires the application of advanced chemical methods for controlling nanoparticle size, shape, composition, surface functionality, interaction potential, and geometric environment while simultaneously addressing fundamental questions about the symmetry, topology, and out-of-equilibrium dynamics of assembled nanometer-scale systems. Through these insights we design adaptive materials with unique optical and mechanical properties with potential impact in the fields of metamaterials, energy storage, and biology.
