Crystallizing of membrane proteins for structure determination is a challenge. In contrast to soluble proteins, their hydrophobic moieties have been demonstrated to add a significant level of complexity which has resulted in a number of known structures significantly smaller than those of soluble proteins: 200 vs 60000. A relatively new method to crystallize membrane proteins is the bicelle-based method. Well-diffracting crystals of bacteriorhodopsin and some G-protein coupled receptors have been obtained by this method. The bicelle-based method can potentially prove to be robust enough to allow for more membrane proteins to be crystallized, because bicelles offer a significant variety of membrane-like environments. The key to making it a reliable methodology is to understand how the lipid-detergent scaffold promotes the nucleation and growth of protein crystals.

Conjugated organic molecules and polymers have been studied widely for their electro-optic properties. In this talk, I will discuss our recent effort in developing conjugated diblock co-oligomers as molecular diodes, which consist of donor and acceptor blocks covalently connected. Charge transport measurements through single molecular diodedemonstrated rectification effect. Experiments to unambiguously prove the molecular origin of this rectification effect will be presented. The molecular diodes are further assembled in cross-bar structures that were shown to exhibit photovotaic effect. Based on this work, conjugated diblock copolymers were developed for solar cell applications. This talk will also present our recent effort in polymeric solar cells. A series of new polymers with exceptional power conversion efficiency will be discussed.

Chemical engineers have historically played an important role in nearly every breakthrough technology in the energy industry. From the beginnings of the petroleum refining, petrochemical, and natural gas industries challenges have consistently been overcome through innovations that stretched current knowledge. As the energy industry now faces a new slate of challenges, from heavier feedstocks to increasing regulations, chemical engineers are developing new technologies and looking at novel approaches to help our world find solutions. It is important not only to identify long term sustainable energy solutions, but we must also develop strategies to map the transition from current technology to clean and low carbon energy sources. These include technologies for processing heavy crude oil, more efficient refinery/power generation operations, and developing the use of renewables to address sustainability and environmental regulations. In addition to solving one of the most pressing of the world’s problems, chemical engineers are uniquely positioned to become engaged and active not only in inventing and developing the solutions, but in assisting political and government institutions in formulating sound policy.