Hsien Cheng Huang
Advisor: Prof. Vladimir V. Tsukruk

will propose a doctoral thesis entitled,

Engineering Nanoscale Chirality in Hybrid Branched Ionic Frameworks for Tunable Optical and Transport Properties

On

Thursday, June 19 at 10:00 a.m.
Molecular Science and Engineering Building (MoSE)  Room 1226

and

Virtually via Zoom

https://gatech.zoom.us/j/97585295471?pwd=wfSPZpOvpy9t32Zozle7SmJt6WU3b2.1

Committee Members

Prof. Vladimir Tsukruk (Advisor), MSE

Prof. Blair Brettmann, ChBE, MSE

Prof. Scott Danielsen, MSE

Prof. Antonio Facchetti, MSE

Prof. Shucong Li, MSE

Abstract

Chirality profoundly influences how molecules interact with light, ions, and biological systems, playing a pivotal role in fields ranging from asymmetric catalysis to ion transport and molecular recognition. While its importance is well-established at the molecular level, translating chirality into extended material systems remains a formidable challenge. This thesis addresses that gap by exploring how chiral elements—such as enantiomerically pure ligands and amino acid-functionalized nodes—can be integrated into Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and branched Oligomeric Ionic Liquids (bOILs) to create materials with controlled handedness and nanoscale order. These architectures are constructed using bottom-up synthetic methods and characterized through a suite of analytical techniques, including circular dichroism spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and electrochemical impedance measurements. Early experimental efforts have focused on optimizing the interaction between amino acids and ionic scaffolds, resulting in homogeneous and reproducible assemblies that are promising for the emergence of long-range chiral order. By correlating nanoscale architecture with functional performance, this research aims to shed light on how chirality governs optical and ionic behaviors—ultimately guiding the design of materials for chiral separation, photonic modulation, and bioelectronic integration.