James H. Adair

Professor, Materials Science and Engineering

Director, Penn State Particulate Materials Center

Co-Director, NSF Ceramic and Composite Center

249 MRL Bldg.

Penn State University

University Park, PA 16802

Phone: (814) 863-6047

FAX: (814) 863-9704

E-mail: James H. Adair

Education:

• J. William Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Western Australia, 1981-1982 (Soil Science and Plant Nutrition and the Royal Perth Hospital)
• Ph.D., University of Florida, 1981 (Materials Science and Engineering)
• M.S., University of Florida, 1979 (Materials Science and Engineering)
• B.S., University of Florida, 1975 (Chemistry)

Research Interests:

• Nanoscale materials and phenomena
• Electronic, optical, and structural property determinations for designer particles and materials
• Colloid and interfacial chemistry
• Material synthesis and chemistry
• Powder characterization
• Powder processing

Underpinning Dr. Adair's research are the concepts and principles embedded in colloidal and interfacial chemistry. His objectives in student education at both the undergraduate and graduate level is to integrate a fundamental understanding of materials science with colloid and interfacial chemistry. There are currently two research thrusts in the Particulate Materials Center, both with an aim toward nanomedical applications. The underlying science for both technologies resides in their currently unique ability to colloidally manipulate and process nanoscale (sub-50nm) particulates for drug/bioimaging applications and producing bulk nanograin materials and devices, with focus toward reducing the scale of surgical instruments to the sub-100 micron regime. To put the latter effort in perspective, a conventional heart biopsy instrument via catheterization has a scale of 5mm. The drug delivery systems consist of bioresorbable calcium phosphate, nanoporous silica or titania, or calcium phosphosilicate particulates into which medically active substances including drugs, genetic material, peptides, proteins, and fluorescent molecules have been captured. The 2 to 50 nm particulates have been suspended in suspension up to 20 weight percent with resistance to aggregation obtained for up to 36 months. Dr. Adair's group is utilizing the colloidal understanding of the nanocomposite particles for applications ranging from the delivery of medically active agents to the fabrication of nanograin components and devices. Typical grain sizes produced in our zirconia ceramics are 50-70 nanometers, while some of the nanograin metals have grain sizes at the 20 to 40nm scale. Thus, our research directed toward nanocolloids is yielding benefits across a broad spectrum of medical applications. For more information go to http://www.matse.psu.edu/newsletter/docs/MatSE_Spring_07.pdf and http://www.mri.psu.edu/centers/pmc .

Technologies Impacted by Research:

• Nanoscale materials and phenomena
• Electronic, optical, and structural property determinations for designer particles and materials
• Colloid and interfacial chemistry
• Material synthesis and chemistry
• Powder characterization
• Powder processing

Professional Experience:

Awards:

Selected Publications:

1. J.H. Adair, T. Li, T. Kido, K. Havey, J. Moon, J. Mecholsky, A. Morrone, D.R. Talham, M.H. Ludwig, and L. Wang, “Recent Developments in the Preparation and Properties of Nanometer Size Spherical and Platelet-Shaped Particles and Composite Particles,” Material Science and Engineering Reports, R23, Nos. 4-5, pp. 139-242, (1998).
2. T. Li, J. Moon, A.A. Morrone, J.J. Mecholsky, and J.H. Adair, “Preparation of Ag/SiO₂ Nanosize Composites by a Reverse Micelle and Sol-Gel Technique,” Langmuir, [6] (1999).
3. J.H. Adair and E. Suvaci, “Morphological Control of Particles,” Current Opinion in Colloid and Interface Science, 5/1-2, 160-167 (2000).
4. D.S. Bae, Sang-Wan Park, K.S. Han, and J.H. Adair, “Synthesis of Ag/SiO₂ Nanosize Particles by Reverse Micelle and Sol-Gel Processing,” Metals and Materials, 7[4], 399-402 (2001).
5. Dong-Sik Bae, Kyong-Sop Han, James H. Adair, “Synthesis and Microstructure of Pd/SiO₂ Nanosized Particles by Reverse Micelle and Sol-Gel Processing,” J. Materials Chem., 12[10], 3117-3120 (2002).
6. D.S. Bae, K.S. Han, and J.H. Adair, “Synthesis of Cu/SiO₂ Nanosize Particles by a Reverse Micelle and Sol-Gel Processing,” J. Mat. Sci. Ltrs., 21[1], 53-54 (2002).
7. D.S. Bae, K.S. Han, and J.H. Adair, “Synthesis of Pt/SiO₂ Nanocomposite Particles by Reverse Micelle and Sol-Gel Processing,” J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 85[5], 1321-1323 (2002).
8. R.A. Kimel and J.H. Adair, “Aqueous Degradation and Chemical Passivation of Yttria Tetragonally Stabilized Zirconia,” J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 85[6], 403-408 (2002).
9. D.O. Yener, J. Sindel and J.H. Adair, “Synthesis of Nanosized Silver Platelets in Octylamine-Water Bilayer Systems,” Langmuir, 18[22], 8692-8699 (2002).
10. D.S. Bae, K.S. Han, and J.H. Adair, “Synthesis and Microstructure of Pd/SiO₂ Nanosized Particles by Reverse Micelle and Sol-Gel Processing,” J. Mater. Chem., 12[10], 3117-3120 (2002).
11. J.H. Adair, R. Kumar, N. Antolino, C.J. Szepesi, R.A. Kimel, and S.M. Rouse, “Colloidal Lessons Learned for Dispersion of Nanosize Particulate Suspensions,” Lessons in Nanotechnology from Traditional and Advanced Ceramics, Proceedings of the World Academy of Ceramics, J.F. Baumard (ed.), Techna Group SrI, Faenza, Italy, pp. 93-145, 2005.
12. D.S. Bae, E.J. Kim, J.H. Bang, S.W. Kim, K.S. Han, J.K. Lee, B.I. Kim, J.H. Adair, “Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles by a Reverse Micelle Process,” Metals and Materials International 11[4] 291-294, August 2005.
13. J. Wang, W. White and J. Adair, “Optical Properties of Hydrothermally Synthesized Hematite Platelet Pigments,” J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 88[12] 3449-3454 (2005).
14. R.A. Kimel and J.H. Adair, “Aqueous Synthesis of Well-Dispersed Less than 10 nm Yttira Tetragonally Stabilized Zirconia at 200?C by Precipitation from Homogeneous Solution Using Complexation Chemistry,” J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 88[5], 1133-1138 (2005).
15. J.H. Adair, J. Crampo, M.M. Mandanas, E. Suvaci, “The Role of Material Chemistry in Processing BaTiO₃ in Aqueous Suspensions,” J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 89[6] 1853-1860 (2006).
16. J. Wang, W.B. White, and J.H. Adair, “Dispersion of SiO₂-Based Nanocomposites with High Performance Liquid Chromatography,” J. Phys. Chem. B., 110, 4679-4685 (2006).
17. J. Wang, W.B. White, and J.H. Adair, “Evaluation of Dispersion Methods for Silica-Based Composite Nanoparticles,” J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 89[7], 2359-2363 (2006).