Nicholas A. Kotov
Nicholas A. Kotov | |
|---|---|
2021 | |
| Born | August 29, 1965 |
| Alma mater | Moscow State University |
| Known for | self-assembling materials, layer-by-layer assembly, nanotechnology |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Nanotechnology, Biomedical Engineering |
| Institutions | University of Michigan |
| Thesis | Photoelectrochemical Effects at the Interface of the Two Immiscible Electrolyte Solutions |
| Doctoral advisor | Mikhail Kuzmin |
| Other academic advisors | Janos H. Fendler |
Nicholas A. Kotov (born August 29, 1965, in Moscow, USSR) is the Irving Langmuir Distinguished University Professor of Chemical Sciences and Engineering at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. He is the Director of the National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center for Complex Particle Systems (COMPASS).
Kotov is known for pioneering studies on nanoparticle self-organization, biomimetic materials, and chiral nanostructures. Kotov demonstrated that structurally imperfect inorganic nanoparticles can self-assemble into complex hierarchical structures resembling biological assemblies and materials. He established self-organization as an intrinsic characteristic of nanoscale systems, which contributed to the development of biomimetic composites combining mechanical, optical, and functional properties that are rarely achieved simultaneously in conventional materials. These composite biomimetic materials are exemplified by nacre-like composites from clay and graphene oxide, and cartilage-like membranes from cellulose nanofibrils and aramid nanofibers. Kotov is also known for pioneering chiral nanostructures exhibiting exceptionally strong optical activity.
Materials he developed have enabled sustainable energy devices, green catalysis, and aramid recycling. The chiral plasmonic nanoparticles are being tested for early detection of cancer.