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Everett E. Carpenter

Assistant professor Inorganic and materials chemistry (804) 828-7508 ecarpenter2@vcu.edu

Research page

Education

B.S., Appalachian State University, 1994
Ph.D., University of New Orleans, 1999

National Research Council Fellow, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C., 1999-2000

Research Chemist, Naval Research Laboratory, Complex Materials Section, Washington, D.C., 2000-2004.

Research interests

The synthesis and application of nanoparticles is a very active avenue of research in materials chemistry. This area of research brings together many different disciplines such as biochemistry, physics and electrical engineering. Our research focus takes advantage of a common need in these areas high magnetic moment nanoparticles that are passivated to protect them from oxidation. The applications that we target may seem diverse but they all revolve around this common focal point synthesis of high-quality magnetic nanoparticles.

Magnetic carriers for biomedical applications

Magnetic carriers are magnetic nanoparticles, typically iron-based, that have been functionalized to carry small biologically relevant molecules to target regions. Magnetic fields are a means to localize the nanoparticles and concentrate them in a given region. In our research we are currently focused on the development of magnetic carriers as a drug-delivery mechanism where AC-magnetic fields are used to deliver the therapeutic. This allows the particles to achieve a high concentration in the vicinity of the magnetic field. This has profound implications in chemotherapy, gene therapy and in trauma care.

Magnetic semiconductors for biosensor applications

This is a more traditional materials chemistry problem where we are attempting to develop a new class of magnetic semiconductors based on core-shell morphology. In this case, the magnetic properties come from an iron or iron oxide core that is surrounded by semiconductor material such as CdS, ZnO, etc. These materials have promise in areas such as quantum computing and molecular electronics. Our focus is on the development of these materials as dual detection biosensors. In this area, the materials can be used as normal optical and fluorescent probes, but they have an added more sensitive magnetic detection.

Magnetic nanoparticles for high-frequency applications

Nanoparticles have tremendous potential in MHz and GHz applications due to the dramatic reduction of eddy current lose. Using the core-shell morphology, we have been able to tailor the magnetic and electronic properties of ferrites, the traditional microwave materials, using a core of metallic iron with a shell of high permittivity nickel zinc ferrite or even other dielectric materials such as barium titanate. These materials have the potential to dramatically decrease noise in communication antenna thus increasing range and traffic.

Research in the three main thrust regions all revolve around the development of novel magnetic nanoparticles. Each area, while based on the initial core-shell iron morphology, requires tweaking. Our focus is on ways to tailor the magnetic nanoparticle for the desired application. The synthesis is centered on bench top techniques and includes issues related to pilot plant scale-up production. Students working in our group will learn techniques for the synthesis and characterization of the magnetic nanoparticles.

Publications

1. Poddar, P., Srikanth, H., Morrison, S. A. & Carpenter, E. E. Inter-particle interactions and magnetism in manganese-zinc ferrite nanoparticles. Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials 288, 443-451 (2005).
2. Calvin, S. et al. Automated system for x-ray absorption spectroscopy of nanoparticle nucleation and growth. Review of Scientific Instrumentation 76, 016103 (2005).
3. Long, J. W., Logan, M. S., Carpenter, E. E. & Rolison, D. R. Synthesis and characterization of Mn-FeOx aerogels with magnetic properties. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids 350, 182-188 (2004).
4. Long, J. W. et al. Nanocrystalline Iron Oxide Aerogels as Mesoporous Magnetic Architectures. Journal of the American Chemical Society 126, 16879-16889 (2004).
5. Brewer, G., Brewer, C., Butcher, R. J., et al., Synthesis and characterization of Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes of a tripodal ligand containing imidazoles, Inorganic Chimica Acta 359 (4): 1263-1268 Mar 1, 2006
6. Morrison, S. A., Cahill, C. L., Carpenter, E. E., et al., Production scaleup of reverse micelle synthesis
   Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 45 (3): 1217-1220 Feb 1, 2006
7. Brewer, C., Brewer, G., Butcher, R. J., et al. Synthesis and characterization of seven-coordinate tripodal imidazole complexes of iron(II) and manganese(II), Dalton Transactions (22): 3617-3619 Nov 21, 2005. Journal cover.
8. Morrison, S. A., Cahill, C. L., Carpenter, E. E., et al. Atomic engineering of mixed ferrite and core-shell nanoparticles Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 5 (9): 1323-1344 SEP 2005. Invited feature research article in a special issue.

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