Steven K. Buratto

Steven K. Buratto is a Professor and Vice Chair of Undergraduate Student Affairs in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). He holds a B.S. from the University of Puget Sound and a Ph.D. from Caltech (1992). After postdoctoral research at AT&T Bell Laboratories, he joined UCSB in 1994. His research focuses on nanoscale materials and energy systems, leveraging advanced microscopy techniques like NSOM and NFOS to study thin films, surfaces, and nanomaterials in contexts such as fuel cells, conducting polymers, and biomembranes.

Key research areas include:

• Physical Chemistry of nanomaterials
• Nanostructured energy systems (e.g., fuel cells)
• Catalysis and green chemistry
• Optical spectroscopy and microscopy at the nanoscale

He leads the Buratto Research Group, which operates labs in STM, Fuel Cells, and NSOM. Notable awards include the Camille & Henry Dreyfus New Faculty Award and NSF Early Career Development Award. His group collaborates on instrumentation like AFMs, laser scanning microscopes, and fuel cell test stations. Students advised include Austin Barnes, Dezmond Bishop, and Jeremy Robins.

Lab locations include Chem 4148B (office), PSBN 4624 (Fuel Cell Lab), and NSOM facilities. Research outputs span over 50 peer-reviewed articles, emphasizing nanoscale energy materials and surface characterization techniques.