Peter A. Monson
Peter A. Monson, Professor
154B Goessmann Lab
Chemical Engineering Department
University of Massachusetts Amherst
686 N. Pleasant Street
Amherst, MA 01003-9303
413-545-0661 (Office)
413-545-1647 (FAX)
monson@ecs.umass.edu
Nanoscale Interdisciplinary Research Team (NIRT) website
Education
B.Sc., Chemistry, University of London, 1976
Ph.D., Chemistry, University of London, 1979
Recognitions
D.Sc., University of London, 1998
Outstanding Teacher Award, University of Massachusetts, College of Engineering, 1998
Outstanding Senior Faculty Award, University of Massachusetts, College of Engineering, 1999
Samuel F. Conti Faculty Fellowship, University of Massachusetts, 2006
Editorial Advisory Board: Adsorption
Editorial Advisory Board: Langmuir
Current Focus of Research
Our research is concerned with the application of molecular theory to problems at the forefront of Chemical Engineering Technology. The goal is to build a link between microscopic interactions and the macroscopic behavior, as well as to provide physical insights that can improve the theoretical basis of mesoscopic and macroscopic models. Our work is currently focused on fluids confined in porous materials, solid-fluid phase equilibrium and applications of molecular modeling in nanotechnology. These are areas that afford an opportunity for important fundamental research that has a close connection with practical applications. Our research uses several techniques from statistical mechanics including Monte Carlo computer simulation, density functional theory and molecular dynamics as well as careful application of thermodynamic principles.
Fluids Confined in Porous Materials
The molecular level behavior of fluids in porous materials such as zeolites, activated carbons and porous glasses is critical in applications such as heterogeneous catalysis, adsorption separations and oil recovery technology. The key question here is how the porous material microstructure determines the thermodynamic behavior of confined fluids. In our recent work we have developed an entirely new approach to understanding how adsorption isotherms are related to the material microstructure, especially for systems exhibiting hysteresis.
Solid-Fluid Phase Equilibrium
The focus of this research program is to improve our fundamental knowledge of how molecular structure determines solid-fluid phase diagrams for pure components and for mixtures. Progress in this area is of long term benefit to the needs of solid-fluid separations in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries and hydrocarbon processing in the petroleum and natural gas industries. New theoretical approaches have been developed to study solid-fluid phase equilibrium both for pure component systems and mixtures. We have developed a treatment of molecular structure effects on solid-fluid phase diagrams of flexible chain molecules focusing especially on the n-alkanes and the trends in their properties with chain length. We are now extending our work to understanding the properties and stability of gas hydrates. We have also started a program on understanding the solid-fluid phase behavior of chiral molecules that feature prominently in the pharmaceutical industry.
Applications of Molecular Modeling in Nanotechnology
The ability to manipulate and control the structure and properties of materials at the nanometer length scale has the potential to revolutionize modern technology. At these length scales the properties of materials can only be understood using molecular concepts. We are working on several projects related to nanotechnology. Our group is developing a new approach to understanding the growth of nanoporous materials that will help us understand, for example, how the process of templating works at the molecular level. Also we are looking at several applications where the interfacial behavior of fluids in confined geometries impacts the performance of nanoscale devices.
Selected Publications
F. Porcheron. P. A. Monson and M. Thommes, "Molecular Modeling of Mercury Porosimetry", Adsorption, 11, 325-329 (2005)
M. Cao and P. A. Monson, "Studies of the phase behavior of a simple model of chiral molecules and enantiomeric mixtures, J. Chem. Phys., 122, 054505 (2005)
J. Liu and P. A. Monson, "Does Water Condense in Carbon Pores ?", Langmuir, 21, 10219-10225 (2005)
M. Jorge, S. Auerbach and P. A. Monson, "Modeling Spontaneous Formation of Precursor Nanoparticles in Clear-Solution Zeolite Synthesis", J. Am. Chem. Soc., 127, 14388-14400 (2005)
F. Porcheron, and P. A. Monson. "Mean field theory for liquid droplets on roughened solid surfaces: application to superhydrophobicity", Langmuir, 22, 1595-1601 (2006)
S. Wierzchowski and P. A. Monson, "Calculating the phase behavior of gas hydrate forming systems from molecular models", I.&.E.C. Research, 45, 424-431 (2006)
S. Punnathanam and P. A. Monson, "Monte Carlo simulations of crystal nucleation in binary hard sphere mixtures", J. Chem. Phys., 25, 024508 (2006)
J. Liu and P. A. Monson, "Monte Carlo simulations of adsorption of water in activated carbon", I.&E.C. Research, 45, 5649-5656 (2006)
R. Valiullin, S. Naumov, P. Galvosas, J. Kärger, H-J. Woo, F. Porcheron and P. A. Monson, "Exploration of Molecular Dynamics during Transient Sorption of Fluids in Mesoporous Materials", Nature, 443, 965-968 (2006)
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