Scientific exploration in the Bochinski Lab: Light-matter interactions

Broadly speaking, our research utilizes and investigates light-matter interactions for both fundamental and applied scientific studies. The work is highly interdisciplinary, spanning topics traditionally encountered across the fields of atomic, molecular, and optical physics, condensed matter physics, polymer physics, chemical physics, electrical engineering, and surface science. One common theme which unifies the diverse projects is employing clever optical techniques to understand and control processes on length scales both above and below the wavelength of light -- hence, this work has often been described as explorations in nanoscale physics; our research bridges between manipulating interesting molecular-sized components and then observing the consequences on macroscopic material behaviour.
















Upconverting Plastic Waste

  • D. Fontecha, C. Mahn, J. R. Bochinski, and L. I. Clarke,
    "Tracking the complete degradation lifecycle of poly(ethyl cyanoacrylate): from induced photoluminescence to nitrogen-doped nano-graphene precursor residue,"
    Polymer Degradation and Stability 195, 109772 (2022).
    (journal)
    [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2021.109772]


    • Exploring the Photothermal Effect of Metal Nanoparticles

  • H. Huang, G. Firestone, D. Fontecha, R. E. Gorga, J. R. Bochinski, and L. I. Clarke,
    "Nanoparticle-based photothermal heating to drive chemical reactions within a solid: using inhomogeneous polymer degradation to manipulate mechanical properties and segregate carbonaceous by-products,"
    Nanoscale 12, 904 (2020).
    (journal)
    [DOI: 10.1039/C9NR07401E]





  • G. Firestone, H. Huang, J. R. Bochinski, and L. I. Clarke,
    "Photothermally-driven thermo-oxidative degradation of low density polyethylene: heterogeneous heating plus a complex reaction leads to homogeneous chemistry,"
    Nanotechnology 30, 475706 (2019).
    (journal) [paper]
    [DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/ab3bc0]




  • G. Firestone, J. R. Bochinski, J. S. Meth, and L. I. Clarke,
    "Facile Measurement of Surface Heat Loss from Polymer Thin Films via Fluorescence Thermometry,"
    Journal of Polymer Science B: Polymer Physics 56, 643 (2018).
    (journal) [paper]
    [DOI: 10.1002/polb.24571]











  • S. Maity, Wei-Chen Wu, J. B. Tracy, L. I. Clarke, and J. R. Bochinski,
    "Nanoscale Steady-state Temperature Gradients within Polymer Nanocomposites Undergoing Continuous-Wave Photothermal Heating from Gold Nanorods,"
    Nanoscale 9, 11605 (2017).
    (journal) [paper]
    [DOI: 10.1039/C7NR04613H]








  • Ju Dong, G. Firestone, J. R. Bochinski, L. I. Clarke, and R. E. Gorga,
    "In-situ curing of liquid epoxy via gold-nanoparticle mediated photothermal heating,"
    Nanotechnology 28, 065601 (2017).
    (journal) [paper]
    [DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/aa521b]





    • Edge Electrospinning

  • N. Sheoran, B. Boland, S. Thornton, J. R. Bochinski, and L. I. Clarke, "Enhancing ionic conductivity in polymer melts results in smaller diameter electrospun fibers,"
    Applied Physics Letters 123, 074103 (2023).
    (journal)
    [DOI: 10.1063/5.0162384]






  • N. Sheoran, B. Boland, S. Thornton, J. R. Bochinski, and L. I. Clarke,
    "Increasing ionic conductivity within thermoplastics via commercial additives results in a dramatic decrease in fiber diameter from melt electrospinning,"
    Soft Matter 17, 9264 (2021).
    (journal) [cover]
    [DOI: 10.1039/D1SM01101D].








  • N. M. Thoppey, R. E. Gorga, L. I. Clarke, and J. R. Bochinski,
    "Control of the electric field - polymer solution interaction by utilizing ultra-conductive fluids,"
    Polymer 55, 6390 (2014).
    (journal) [paper]
    [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2014.10.007].




  • Q.-Q. Wang, C. K. Curtis, N. M. Thoppey, J. R. Bochinski, R. E. Gorga, and L. I. Clarke,
    "Unconfined, melt edge electrospinning from multiple, spontaneous, self-organized polymer jets,"
    Materials Research Express 1, 045304 (2014).
    (journal) [paper]
    [DOI: 10.1088/2053-1591/1/4/045304].









    • updated on 08/23/23

    Dr. Bochinski is a research assistant professor in the Department of Physics at NC State University.