Dr. Matthew L. Trawick

Assistant Professor of Physics
D-106 Gottwald Science Center
Office: (804) 289-8253
Fax: (804) 484-1542

My research focus is on the self-assembly in block copolymer systems, particularly in thin films.  These systems can form two-dimensional periodic structures of cylindrical or spherical micro-domains, with typical periodicities of tens of nanometers.  The length scalse of these structures makes such systems important both as laboratories for nano-scale physics, and for their potential applications in nanotechnology.  I am currently instrested in understanding the mechanisms by which periodic lattices coarsen from a fine-grained to larger-grained patterns.  I am also interested in using the patterns generated by block copolymer self-assembly as templates for nano-scale lithography processes to produce a variety of devices for memory storage and computation.  My primary tool for studying these polymers is atomic force microscopy.  I am developing a new microscopy laboratory at the University of Richmond around a new state of the art Asylum Research MPF-3D atomic force microscope.  It is capable of subnanometer resolution and can measure forces in the picoNewton range.

Education:
Ph.D., Ohio State University