David M. Collard Professor and Director of Graduate Studies Office: MSE 2100J Phone: 404-894-4026 Fax: 404-894-7452 E-mail David M. Collard Research Group Web site

B.S., University of East Anglia; Ph.D., University of Massachusetts at Amherst; Postdoctoral, University of Texas at Austin

Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation New Faculty Award; NSF CAREER Award; Research Corporation Cottrell Scholarship

Research Interests

The main focus of Dr. Collard's research is the molecular self-assembly in polymers which allows for the formation of new supermolecular architectures that take on new functions and promise potential benefits and novel applications. Currently, his group is studying surfactants, spontaneously assembled monolayers, and liquid crystals. Materials under study include conjugated electronically conductive polymers and new functional polyesters. Techniques used to construct and probe the structure of our supramolecular assemblies including: synthesis, electrochemistry, thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction and microscopy.

Conducting Polymers. Electronically conductive polymers have a broad range of potential applications, including sensors, displays, optical communication, and microelectronics. The polymers of interest have highly conjugated backbones, such as polyacetylene and polythiophene. To prepare ordered ( i.e. , crystalline) polymers we have prepared monomers, which are surfactants and liquid crystals. The polymer chain structure and chain packing are studied for their effect on conjugation and charge migration.

New Functional Copolyesters. Despite well-developed markets (fibers, food and beverage packaging), and a world shortage of feedstock, fundamental questions about the structure of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) remain unanswered. Copolymers and polymers with pendant functional groups are prepared to develop structure-property relationships and to optimize properties. Research goals include: decreased permeability to carbon dioxide and oxygen, increased glass transition temperature, increased tensile strength and increased modulus. Incorporation of the anthracenate unit into PET allows for the modification of polymer properties through grafting with dienophiles.

Recent Publications

"Controlling Cell Adhesion to Titanium: Functionalization of Poly(Oligo(ethylene glycol) Methacrylate) Brushes with Cell Adhesive Peptides", J.E. Raynor†, T.A. Petrie, A.J. García, D.M. Collard, Advanced Materials 2007 in press.

"Synthesis and Characterization of Regioregular and Regiorandom Unsymmetrically Substituted Poly (2,5-Dialkoxy-1,4-phenylene ethynylene)s", R.R. Nambiar, G.L. Brizius, D M. Collard, Advanced Materials 2007 in press.

"Structure and dynamic mechanical properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate-co-4,40-bibenzoate) fibers" H. Ma†, D.M. Collard, D.A. Schiraldi, S. Kumar, Polymer 2007, 48, 1651-1658

"Stacked Conjugated Oligomers as Molecular Models to Examine Interchain Interactions in Conjugated Materials", K.M. Knoblock†, C.J. Silvestri‡, D.M. Collard, Journal of the American Chemical Society 2006, 128, 13680-13681.

"Aggregation of a Polyphilic Janus Polythiophene in Solution", L. Li†, D.M. Collard, Macromolecules 2006, 39, 6092-6097.

"Functional Lactide Monomers: Methodology and Polymerization", W.W Gerhardt, D.E. Noga†, K.I. Hardcastle, A.J. García, D.M. Collard, M. Weck, Biomacromolecules 2006, 7, 1735-1742.

"Switchable gratings by spatially periodic alignment of liquid crystals via patterned photopolymerization" J. Zhou, D.M. Collard, M. Srinivasarao, Optics Letters 2006, 31(5), 652-654.

"Tuning the Electronic Structure of Conjugated Polymers with Fluoroalkyl Substitution: Alternating Alkyl/Perfluoroalkyl-Substituted Polythiophene", L. Li, D.M. Collard, Macromolecules 2005, 38, 372-378.

"Crystal structure and composition of polyethylene (terephthalate-co-4,4'-bibenzoate)", H. Ma, T. Uchida, D.M. Collard, D.A. Schiraldi, S. Kumar, Macromolecules, 2004, 37, 7643-7648.

"Surface Chemistry Modulates Focal Adhesion Composition and Signaling Through Changes in Integrin Binding", B.G. Keselowsky, D.M. Collard, A.J. García, Biomaterials, 2004, 25, 5947-5954.

"Tuning the Electronic Structure and Solubility of Conjugated Polymers with Perfluoroalkyl Substituents: Poly(3-perfluorooctyl)thiophene: The First scCO2-soluble Conjugated Polymer", L. Li, K.E. Counts, S. Kurasawa, A.S. Teja, D.M. Collard, Advanced Materials 2004, 16, 180.

"Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Modified with Aromatic Bisester Diamides: Thermal and Oxygen Barrier Properties", M.R. Hibbs, J. Holtzclaw, D.M. Collard, R.Y.F. Liu, A. Hiltner, E. Baer, D.A. Schiraldi, Journal of Polymer Science: Part A, Chemistry 2004, 42, 1668-81.

"Crosslinking Studies on Poly(ethylene terephthalate-co-1,4-phenylene bisacrylate)", H. Ma, M. Vargas, D.M. Collard, S. Kumar, D.A.Schiraldi, Journal of Applied Polymer Science: Polymer Chemistry 2004, 91, 1698-1702.

"Synthesis and Characterization of PET-based Liquid Crystalline Copolyesters Containing 6-Oxynaphthalene-2-carboxylate and 6-Oxyanthracene-2-carboxylate Units", M.R. Hibbs, M. Vargas, J. Holtzclaw, W. Rich, D.M. Collard, D.A. Schiraldi, Macromolecules 2003, 36, 7543-7551.

"π-Stacked Conjugated Polymers: The Influence of Paracyclophane π-Stacks on the Redox and Optical Properties of a New Class of Broken Conjugated Polythiophenes", F. Salhi, D.M. Collard, Advanced Materials2003, 15, 81.

"Fibronectin Adsortion and Cell Adhesion to Mixed Monolayers of Tri(ethylene glycol)- and Methyl-terminated Alkanethiols", J.R. Capadona, D.M. Collard, A.J. Garcia, Langmuir 2003, 19, 1847.

"Comparison of Statistical and Blocky Copolymers of Ethylene Terephthalate ad Ethylene 4,4Bibenzoate Based on Thermal Behavior and Oxygen Transport Properties", R.Y.F. Liu, Y.S. Hu, M.R. Hibbs, D.M. Collard, D.A. Schiraldi, A. Hiltner, E. Baer, Journal of Polymer Science: Part B: Polymer Physics 2003 41, 289-307.

"Diels-Alder Modification of Poly(ethylene terephthalate-co-anthracene-2,6-carboxylate) with N-Substituted Maleimides", M. Vargas, R.M. Kriegel, D.M. Collard, D.A. Schiraldi, Journal of Polymer Science, 2002, 40, 3256-63.

"Control of the Anchoring Behavior of Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystals: The Effect of Branching in the Side Chains of Polyacrylates", J. Zhou, D.M. Collard, J.O. Park, M. Srinivasarao, The Journal of the American Chemical Society 2002, 124, 9980-9981.

"The Influence of π-Stacking on Redox Properties of Oligothiphenes: (α-Alkyloligothienyl)para[2.2]cyclophanes", F. Salhi, B. Lee, C. Metz, L.A. Bottomley, D.M. Collard,Organic Letters 2002, 4, 3195-3198.

"Micropatterned Surfaces to Engineer Focal Adhesions for Analysis of Cell Adhesion Strengthening", N.D. Gallant, J. Capadona, A.B. Frazier, D.M. Collard and A.J. Garcia, Langmuir 2002, 18, 5579-5584.

"Fiber Spinning, Structure and Properties of Poly (ethylene terephthalate-co-4,4-bibenzoate) Copolyesters", H. Ma, M. Hibbs, D.M. Collard, S. Kumar, D.A. Schiraldi, Macromolecules 2002, 35, 5123-5130.

"Liquid Crystalline Regioregular Semifluoroallkyl-Substitued Polythiophenes", X.M. Hong, D.M. Collard, Macromolecules; 2000, 33, 6916-6917.

"Suzuki Cross-coupling Reactions Catalyzed by Palladium Nanoparticles in Aqueous Solution", Y. Li, X.M. Hong, D.M. Collard, M.A. El-Sayed,Organic Letters 2000, 2, 2385-2388.

"Controlling the Macromolecular Architecture of Poly(3-alkylthiophene)s by Alternating Alkyl and Fluoroalkyl Substituents", X. Hong, J.C. Tyson, D.M. Collard, Macromolecules 2000, 33, 3502-3504.

"Photochemical Crosslinking of Poly(ethylene terephthalate-co-2,6-anthracenedicarboxylate)", J.R. Jones, C.L. Liotta, D.M. Collard, D.A. Schiraldi, Macromolecules 2000, 33, 1640-1645.