Welcome From The Chair

Message From The Director of Graduate Admissions

Faculty

Albert Miller, Professor

Education
Engineering Degree in Metallurgy, Colorado School of Mines (1960)
Ph.D. Iowa State University (1964)

Professional Experience
Post Doctoral Associate, USAEC Ames Laboratory (1964-1966)
Associate Professor, University of Alberta (1966-1967)
Assistant Professor, University of Notre Dame (1967-1970)
Associate Professor, University of Notre Dame (1970)-(1979)
Professor, University of Notre Dame (1979-present)

Research Interests

The interests of our research group lie in the connections between the synthesis, processing and structure of materials and their performance. In particular, directed research programs in corrosion inhibition of aluminum alloys has lead to a family of environmentally benign corrosion inhibitors that self-catalyze protective film growth and significantly improve corrosion resistance. Electrochemical methods are used to fabricate ordered templates with nano-meter sized features directly on silicon wafers for use in the fabrication of sensitive IR detectors and selective bacterial sensors. Other electrochemical studies of pulsed plated and photochemically produced catalysts and carbon nano-tube coated gas diffusion layers have yielded very effective PEM fuel cell electrodes.

 

Publications

Juan Jiang, Manju Basu, Sara Seggerson, Albert Miller, Michael Pugia and Subhash Basu. Chapt. 7, Detection of Biological Materials by Gold Nano-biosensor-based Electrochemical Method -. Nanotechnologies for the Life Sciences, Wiley-VCH, 8:208-238, 2007. view abstract This chapter describes a quick method for bacteria detection using a gold
nanowire based biosensor and electrochemical impedance measurements. Detection methods have been developed with the use of gold nanowire (GNW) substrates attached to a C11 linker arm in turn attached to the specific E. coli antibodies . Preliminary results indicate that the GNW biosensor can detect as few as 50 E. coli cells with a sensor area of 0.178 cm2. Although this report gives the initial results for
this novel procedure it can be used in wider applications. The specificity of detection
of any cell depends on the availability of a specific antibody directed to the cell surface macromolecules or antigens . This method would be applicable to
detect any cancer cells based on the antigens present on cell surfaces, such as
human colon and breast cancer cells containing LeX and Sialo-LeX [60]. Antibodies
against these antigens are available commercially.

Michael. M. Crouse, Albert. E. Miller, David. T. Crouse and Ataul. A. Ikram. Nanoporous Alumina Template with In-Situ Barrier Oxide Removal, Synthesized from Multilayer Thin Film Precursor. J. of The Electrochemical Society, 152 (10):D167-D172, 2005. view abstract // link A nanoporous alumina template made from a multilayer metal film structure has been developed that allows for the in situ removal of the electrically insulating alumina barrier layer, exposing a Pt electrode at the pore bases. This barrier-free nanoporous system is of great use for dc electrodeposition of a wide variety of materials in the alumina pores. This work in particular describes the development of a multilayer thin film precursor consisting of a Si substrate with thin Pt and Ti and a thicker Al layer in that order. After the Al is anodized, producing the porous alumina, the resulting TiO2 is selectively removed at the base of the alumina pores exposing the Pt electrode. The metals in the precursor perform different roles in the fabrication and allow the alumina template to be fabricated directly on the final substrate with no film transfer technique involved. This allows Si to be used as the substrate, which could then include electronic circuitry. Several techniques are used to analyze the resulting template.

Juan Jiang, Timotlhy Hall, Loukas Tsagalas, Davide A. Hill, Albert E. Miller. Photographic production of metal nano-particles for fuel cell electrodes. Journal of Power Sources, In Press, xx:xx-xxx, 2006. view abstract // link A photographic Pt printing process has been used to prepare catalysts for fuel cell applications. Ferric oxalate was used as a UV sensitizer, absorbing UV energy and converting Fe3+ to Fe2+, which then reduces metal catalyst ions, such as Pt or Pd ions to metals in the presence of a developer, such as ammonium citrate. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies revealed that Pt particles smaller than 5 nm were formed, however, the particles tended to aggregate and form clusters up to 300 nm. A deposition efficiency of 16% was obtained when Pt was printed on Nafion membranes. The catalytic performance of the photo-printed Pt was evaluated using a single H2 fuel
cell. The mass-specific electrochemical area of the catalyst, H2 crossover rate through the Pt-printed membrane and the membrane resistance were measured. At 60 •C, a peak power density of 75mWcm-2 was obtained with a MEA consisting of photo-printed Pt (0.12 mg cm-2) on a Nafion membrane as the catalyst. Cyclic voltammetry measurements in solutions containing methanol or formic acid showed that a mass-specific methanol oxidation current of 197mAmg-1 Pt could be achieved and that the co-deposition of Pd with Pt lowered the formic acid oxidation potential in
addition to reducing the formation of the "poisonous" intermediate COads.

Awards

R. F. Bunshah Award

Given on October 19, 1988 by Vacuum Metallurgy Division of American Vacuum Society

Ragnar Holm Award

Given on April 17, 1985 by IEEE

Adams Award

Given on March 8, 1976 by American Welding Society

Courses

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