معرفی
Ben Lear is a Professor of Chemistry and Associate Department Head for Facilities at the Department of Chemistry, part of the Eberly College of Science at Pennsylvania State University. He holds a B.S. (2002) and M.S. (2004) from the University of California, Davis and San Diego, respectively, and a Ph.D. (2007) from UC San Diego. His research focuses on nanoparticle interactions with chemical environments, particularly ligand control over electronic properties and photothermal-driven chemistry.
Research interests include: (1) Modulating electronic properties of metal nanoparticles via ligands, using UV/Vis and EPR spectroscopy; (2) Photothermal activation of chemical reactions at nanoscale spatial/temporal resolution, achieving high-temperature polymerization and clean reactions. The Lear Lab employs advanced techniques like conduction electron spin resonance and molecular dynamics simulations.
Publications highlight breakthroughs in photothermal curing of polymers and ligand-induced electronic changes in metallic nanoparticles. His lab develops custom tools for data analysis (e.g., chi_Pauli calculator, lognormal fitter) and characterization methods. Current projects explore nanoscale heat applications and ligand-surface interface effects.
Lab resources include collaborations with Penn State's Eberly College infrastructure and access to specialized equipment for nanoparticle synthesis and analysis. The group comprises undergraduates, graduates, and occasional postdocs working at the chemistry/materials science interface.
