Faculty
Benjamin S. Hsiao, Professor
B.S. National Taiwan University, 1980
Ph.D. University of Connecticut, 1987
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Massachusetts, 1987-1989
Phone: (631) 632-7793
Fax: (631) 632-6518
Email:
Background
Scientist, DuPont Company, 1989-1997
Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Delaware, 1994-1997
Spokesperson, X27C (Advanced Polymers Beamline), National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory 1997-
Guest Professor, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academic of Sciences, 2000-
Chang-Jiang Professor, Donghua University, Shanghai, China, 2008-
Visiting Professor, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Shanghai, China, 2009-
Member of Editorial Advisory Board, Journal of Macromolecular Science- Physics, 1995-
Member of Editorial Advisory Board, Journal of Polymer Research, 1995-
Member of Editorial Advisory Board, High Performance Polymers, 1996-
Member of Editorial Advisory Board, Chinese Journal and Applied Chemistry; 2003-
Member of Editorial Advisory Board, Polymer, 2003-
Member of Editorial Advisory Board, Macromolecules, 2010-
Member, Advisory Board, American Chemical Society, Petroleum Research Fund, 2007-
Member, Board of Directors of Science and Technology Steering Committee (STSC), Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), 2010-
Physical Chemistry, Polymer Physics and Materials Sciences
Polymers
Polymers are long molecules having many unique properties different from metals and small-molecule liquids. They are widely used in our daily life in plastics, textile fibers and optical/medical devices. In my laboratory, we are interested in understanding the structural and morphological development and manipulation of complex polymer systems during preparation and processing in real time. The focus of our research projects is the design, preparation, characterization and application of nanostructured soft condensed materials, such as fibers (one-dimensional orientation), films (two-dimensional orientation) and bulk material systems (three-dimensional orientation). My current research interests are mainly focused on the use of nanostructured materials for energy, environmental and medical applications.
Polymer Crystallization
We are interested in fundamental research of polymer crystallization. One ongoing project is orientation-induced crystallization of entangled polymer chains. The behavior of orientation-induced crystallization in polymers under flow and deformation has been investigated using in-situ X-ray techniques. We propose that molecular orientation affects the crystallization behavior of polymer melts in two different aspects: thermodynamic and hydrodynamic. The thermodynamic effect involves the reduction of entropy in oriented chains, which favors the formation of primary nuclei with small size and large density that are mainly responsible for the increase of crystallization rate. The hydrodynamic effect generates the landscape of molecular orientation in chains with different molecular weights, which is responsible for the resultant morphology such as shish, kebab or spherulite.
Polymer Nanocomposites
We are developing varying chemical and physical pathways to disperse nanostructured molecules and nanosize particles (e.g. nanotubes and layered silicates) in the polymer matrix at the molecular level. We found that the structure, property and processing relationships are dramatically different in nanocomposites as compared to their neat resin counterparts.
Synchrotron X-ray Scattering and Diffraction Technology Development
One unique characterization tool developed in this laboratory is the simultaneous small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) and wide-angle x-ray diffraction (WAXD) technique using synchrotron radiation. Dedicated to polymer research, the Advanced Polymers Participating Research Team (AP-PRT) was formed in 1997 to develop a synchrotron X-ray scattering beamline (X27C) at the National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory. This facility, the first of its kind in the U.S., was funded by Stony Brook (Prof. B. Chu and I are spokespersons), government and industrial laboratories. The primary focus of this PRT is to investigate polymer structure, morphology and dynamics from atomic (1-20 Å) to microscopic scales (20 - 1000 Å) in real time and/or in-situ using simultaneous SAXS/WAXD techniques.
Absorbable Polymers for Medical Applications, Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering
We have developed several unique processing techniques to fabricate nanostructured materials including (1) nonwoven membranes consisting of nanosize fibers, and (2) nanosize particles (10 - 500 nm). FDA-approved biodegradable polymers such as polyglycolide (PGA) and polylactide (PLA) homo- and copolymers are the base materials for forming the nanostructured scaffolds. The biodegradation rate as well as the drug (DNA and medicine) release rate are functions of fiber/particle size, morphology, porosity and chemical compositions, which can be precisely controlled by processing parameters. The major goal of this research is for medical applications, drug delivery and tissue engineering.
Breakthrough Nanofibrous Membrane Technology for Water Purification
Together with Prof. Benjamin Chu, we are focusing on the use of breakthrough nanofibrous membranes for water purification. The major innovation of our nanofiber technology is that membranes made of nanofiber materials in the non-woven format have drastically improved the flux capacity (e.g. often with many times flux increase) and thereby permitting lower operating pressures but retaining their resistance to fouling. Better flux means less time to filter the same amount of water, which in turn decreases energy consumption and increases cost efficiency. Better resistance to fouling refers to the ability to avoid clogging of the membrane pores by foreign matter, such as oil, detergents, biomacromolecules and salts that can accumulate during the purification process. The fouling resistance of our filters requires additional considerations on chemical composition and surface modifications.
Awards/Honors
- DuPont Young Professor Award, 1998
- Mentor Awards, Research Institute at Stony Brook, 2000
- Overseas Visiting Scholarship, National Science Council, Republic of China (Taiwan), 2002, 2006
- Fellow, American Physical Society, 2002
- Fellow, American Chemical Society, 2011
- Fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 2011
- Journal of Controlled Release, Most Cited Paper 2004 Award, “Incorporation and Controlled Release of Hydrophilic Antibiotics Using Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) Based Electrospun Nanofibrous Membranes”, J. Controlled Release, 98(1) 47-56 (2004)
- Licensed Innovation Award, Research Foundation of State University of New York, 2005
- Special Creativity Award, Division of Materials Research, National Science Foundation, 2007-2009
- Chang-Jiang Scholar, Education Ministry of China, 2008
Publications
Click here for complete list of patents and articles.Articles in Scientific Journals (2010-)
320. Yimin Mao, Feng Zuo, Jong Kahk Keum and Benjamin S. Hsiao, “Crystallization Behavior of Isotactic Propylene-1-Hexene Random Copolymer Investigated by Time-Resolved SAXS/WAXD Techniques”, J Polym Sci. Polym Phys, 48(1), 26-32. (2010).
321. Jiali Cai, Chen Liu, Minmin Cai, Jie Zhu, Feng Zuo, Benjamin S. Hsiao and Richard A Gross, “Effects of molecular weight on poly(ω-pentadecalactone) mechanical and thermal properties”, Polymer, 51(5), 1088-1099 (2010).
322. Zhang, Kai; Wang, Xuefen; Yang, Yin; Wang, Lili; Zhu, Meifang; Hsiao, Benjamin S.; Chu, Benjamin. “Aligned and molecularly oriented semihollow ultrafine polymer fiber yarns by a facile method”, Journal of Polymer Science, Part B: Polymer Physics, 48(10), 1118-1125 (2010).
323. Liming Cai, Yong-Cheng Shi, Lixia Rong, and Benjamin S. Hsiao, “Debranching and crystallization of waxy maize starch in relation to enzyme digestibility”, Carbohydrate Polymers, 81(2), 385-393 (2010).
324. Wang, Xuefen; Zhang, Kai; Yang, Yin; Wang, Lili; Zhou, Zhe; Zhu, Meifang; Hsiao, Benjamin S.; Chu, Benjamin. “Development of hydrophilic barrier layer on nanofibrous substrate as composite membrane via a facile route”, Journal of Membrane Science, 356(1-2), 110-116 (2010).
325. Yan Wang, Ji-Lin Pan, Yan-Hui Chen, Gan-Ji Zhong, Yimin Mao, Zhong-Ming Li, Liangbin Li and Benjamin S. Hsiao, “Spatial Distribution of ω-Crystals in Metallocene-Made Isotactic Polypropylene Crystallized under Combined Thermal and Flow Fields”, Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 114(20), 6806-6816 (2010).
326. Xu, Jia-Zhuang; Chen, Tao; Yang, Chuan-Lu; Li, Zhong-Ming; Mao, Yi-Min; Zeng, Bao-Qing; Hsiao, Benjamin S. “Isothermal Crystallization of Poly(L-lactide) Induced by Graphene Nanosheets and Carbon Nanotubes: A Comparative Study”, Macromolecules, 43(11), 5000-5008 (2010).
327. Masatoshi Tosaka, Shinzo Kohjiya, Yuko Ikeda, Shigeyuki Toki, Benjamin S. Hsiao, “Molecular Orientation and Stress Relaxation during Strain-Induced Crystallization of Vulcanized Natural Rubber”, Polymer Journal, 42(6), 474-481 (2010).
328. Fanny Deplace, Zhigang Wang, Nathaniel A. Lynd, Atsushi Hotta, Anna E. Cherian, Jeffrey M. Rose, Geoffrey W. Coates, Fumihiko Shimizu, K Hirokane, Hisashi Ohtaki, F Yamada, Yong-Woo Shin, Lixia Rong, Jie Zhu, Shigeyuki Toki, Benjamin S. Hsaio, Glenn H. Fredrickson, Edward J. Kramer, “Processing-Structure-Mechanical Property Relationships of Semicrystalline Polyolefin based Block Copolymers”, J. Polym Sci. Polym Phys, 48(13), 1428-1437 (2010).
329. Hongyang Ma, Kyunghwan Yoon, Lixia Rong, Yimin Mao, Zhirui Mo, Dufei Fang, Zachary Hollander, Joseph Gaiteri, Benjamin S. Hsiao and Benjamin Chu, “High Flux Thin-Film Nanofibrous Composite Ultrafiltration Membranes Containing Cellulose Barrier Layer”, Journal of Materials Chemistry (theme issue on Advanced Materials in Water Treatments), 20(22), 4692-4704 (2010).
330. S. Bouhelal, M. E. Cagiao, D. Benachour, B. Djellouli, L. Rong, B. S. Hsiao, F. J. Baltá-Calleja, “SAXS study of reversibly crosslinked isotactic polypropylene/clay nanocomposites”, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 117(6), 3262-3270 (2010).
331. Javier Carretero–González, Tiberio A. Ezquerra, Sureerut Amnuaypornsri, Shigeyuki Toki, Raquel Verdejo, A. Sanz, Jitladda Sakdapipanich, Benjamin S. Hsiao, and Miguel A. López–Manchado, “Molecular Dynamics of Natural Rubber as Revealed by Dielectric Spectroscopy: The Role of Natural Cross–linking”, Soft Matter, 6, 3636–3642 (2010).
332. Zhigang Wang, Yanhua Niu, Glenn H. Fredrickson, Edward J. Kramer, Yong-Woo Shin , Fumihiko Shimizu, Feng Zuo, Lixia Rong ,Benjamin S. Hsiao, “Step-Cycle Mechanical Processing of Gels of sPP-b-EPR-b-sPP Triblock Copolymer and Mineral Oil”, Macromolecules, 43(16), 6782-6788 (2010).
333. Yan-Hui Chen, Yi-Min Mao, Zhong-Ming Li and Benjamin S. Hsiao, “Competitive Growth of α- and β-Crystals in β-Nucleated Isotactic Polypropylene under Shear Flow Field”, Macromolecules, 43(16), 6760-6771 (2010).
334. Pranav Nawani, Christian Burger, Mikhail Y. Gelfer, Lixia Rong, Benjamin Chu, Benjamin. S. Hsiao, Andy H. Tsou and Weiqing Weng, “Characterization of Nanoclay Orientation in Polymer Nanocomposite Film by Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering”, Polymer, 51, 5255-5266 (2010).
335. Ma, Hongyang; Yoon, Kyunghwan; Rong, Lixia; Shokralla, Mina; Kopot, Andrey; Wang, Xiao; Fang, Dufei; Hsiao, Benjamin S.; Chu, Benjamin. “Thin-Film Nanofibrous Composite Ultrafiltration Membranes Based on Polyvinyl Alcohol Barrier Layer Containing Directional Water Channels” Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 49(23), 11978-11984 (2010).
336. Lewis Yung, Hongyang Ma, Xiao Wang, Ran Wang, Benjamin S. Hsiao and Benjamin Chu, “Fabrication of Thin-Film Nanofibrous Composite Membranes by Interfacial Polymerization using Ionic Liquids as Additives”, J. Membrane Science, 365(1-2), 52-58 (2010).
337. Maëva S. Tureau, Lixia Rong, Benjamin S. Hsiao, Thomas H. Epps, III, “Phase Behavior of Neat Triblock Copolymers and Copolymer/Homopolymer Blends Near Network Phase Windows”, Macromolecules, 43(21), 9039-9048 (2010).
338. Gan-Ji Zhong, Zhan-Chun Chen, Zhong-Ming Li, Kai-Zhi Shen, Liangbin Li, and Benjamin S. Hsiao, “Shear Enhanced Crystallization and Tensile Behaviors of Oscillation Shear lnjection Molded Poly(ethyleneterephthalate)”, J. Macromolecular Sci. – Phys., 50(2), 383-397 (2011).
339. Yimin Mao, Christian Burger, Feng Zuo, Benjamin S. Hsiao, Aspy Mehta, Cynthia Mitchell and Andy H. Tsou, “Shear-Induced Crystallization of Propylene-1-Butylene Random Copolymer Revealed by Time-Resolved Wide-Angle X-Ray Scattering”, Macromolecules, 44, 558–565 (2011).
340. Hongyang Ma, Christian Burger, Benjamin S. Hsiao and Benjamin Chu “Ultra-fine Polysaccharide Nanofibrous Membranes for Water Purification”, Biomacromolecules, 12, 970-976 (2011).
341. Jia-Zhuang Xu, Chen Chen, Yan Wang, Hu Tang, Zhong-Ming Li and Benjamin S. Hsiao, “Graphene nanosheets and shear flow induced crystallization in isotactic polypropylene nanocomposites”, Macromolecules, 44(8), 2808-2818 (2011).
342. Feng Zuo, Yimin Mao, Xiaowei Li, Benjamin S. Hsiao, “Effects of Block Architecture on Structure and Mechanical Properties of Olefin Block Copolymers under Uniaxial Deformation”, Macromolecules, 44(9), 3670-3673 (2011).
343. Shigeyuki Toki, Ryuichi Takagi, Masayoshi Ito, Benjamin S. Hsiao, “Rupture, orientation and strain-induced crystallization of polymer chain and network in vulcanized polyisoprene during uniaxial deformation by in situ Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) and synchrotron X-ray analysis”, Polymer, 52(11), 2453-2459 (2011).
344. Jiali Caia, Benjamin S Hsiao, Richard A Gross, “Real-time structure changes during uniaxial stretching of poly(ω–pentadecalactone) by in-situ synchrotron WAXD/SAXS techniques”, Macromolecules, 44(10), 3874-3883 (2011).
345. Hongyang Ma, Christian Burger, Benjamin S. Hsiao and Benjamin Chu “Ultra-Fine Cellulose Nanofibers: New Nano-Scale Materials for Water Purification", Journal of Materials Chemistry, 21 (21), 7507 - 7510 (2011).
346. Hongyang Ma, Benjamin S. Hsiao and Benjamin Chu “Thin-Film Nanofibrous Composite Membranes Containing Cellulose or Chitin Barrier Layers Fabricated by Ionic Liquids”, Polymer, 52(12), 2594-2599 (2011).
347. Yi, Xin; Chen, Chen; Zhong, Gan-Ji; Xu, Ling; Tang, Jian-Hua; Ji, Xu; Hsiao, Benjamin S.; Li, Zhong-Ming. “Suppressing the Skin-Core Structure of Injection-Molded Isotactic Polypropylene via Combination of an in situ Microfibrillar Network and an Interfacial Compatibilizer” Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 115(23), 7497-7504. (2011).
348. Anna. Sato, Ran Wang, Hongyang Ma, Benjamin S. Hsiao, Benjamin Chu, “Novel Nanofibrous Scaffolds for Water Filtration with Bacteria and Virus Removal Capability”, Journal of Electron Microscopy, 60(3), 201–209 (2011). Editor’s Choice Article.
349. Masatoshi Tosaka, Shigeyuki Toki, Justin Che, Lixia Rong and Benjamin S. Hsiao, “Development of Internal Fine Structure in Stretched Rubber Vulcanizates”, Journal of Polymer Science: Polymer Physics, 49(16), 1157-1162 (2011).
350. Wang, Xuefen; Min, Minghua; Liu, Zongyuan; Yang, Yin; Zhou, Zhe; Zhu, Meifang; Chen, Yanmo; Hsiao, Benjamin S., “Poly(ethyleneimine) nanofibrous affinity membrane fabricated via one step wet-electrospinning from poly(vinyl alcohol)-doped poly(ethyleneimine) solution system and its application” Journal of Membrane Science, 379(1-2), 191-199 (2011).
351. Ernesto Hernández-Hernández, Carlos A. Ávila-Orta, Benjamin S. Hsiao, Javier Castro-Rosas, José A. Gallegos-Infante, Juliana Morales-Castro, L. Araceli Ochoa-Martínez, Carlos A. Gómez-Aldapa, “Synchrotron X-ray scattering analysis of the interaction between corn starch and an exogenous lipid during hydrothermal treatment”, Journal of Cereal Science, 54, 69-75 (2011).
352. Xiaowei Li, Yimin Mao, Hongyang Ma, Benjamin S. Hsiao, “An In-Situ X-ray Scattering Study during Uniaxial Stretching of Ionic liquid/Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Blend”, Polymer, Polymer 52 4610-4618 (2011).
353. Yan-Hui Chen, Gan-Ji Zhong, Jun Lei, Zhong-Ming Li and Benjamin S. Hsiao, “In-situ Synchrotron X-ray Scattering Study on Isotactic Polypropylene Crystallization under the Coexistence of Shear Flow and Carbon Nanotubes”, Macromolecules, 44(20), 8080-8092 (2011).
354. Douglas M. Fox, Richard H. Harris Jr., Severine Bellayer, JeffreyW. Gilman, Mikhail Y. Gelfer, Benjamin S. Hsaio, Paul H. Maupin, Paul C. Trulove, Hugh C. De Long, “The pillaring effect of the 1,2-dimethyl-3(benzyl ethyl iso-butyl POSS) imidazolium cation in polymer/montmorillonite nanocomposites”, Polymer, 52, 5335-5343 (2011).
355. Min, Minghua; Wang, Xuefen; Yang, Yin; Liu, Zongyuan; Zhou, Zhe; Zhu, Meifang; Chen, Yanmo; Hsiao, Benjamin S., “Fabrication of micro-nano structure nanofibers by solvent etching”, Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 11(8), 6919-6925 (2011).
