Kevin Yager

Kevin’s research focuses on the self-assembly of soft materials, as well as the use of scattering methods to measure nanostructures. In particular, directed self-assembly is studied from a fundamental point of view; determining what conditions (e.g. substrate treatments) and stimuli (e.g. thermal fields) can be used to control assembly pathways. Materials of particular interest include block-copolymer thin films, and organic photo-voltaics. Kevin co-manages the X9 beamline at NSLS, an undulator-based instrument capable of simultaneous small-angle and wide-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS), including grazing-incidence (GISAXS/GIWAXS) methods. Substantial work goes into developing new scattering techniques, models, and software in order to quantify order and orientation in nanomaterials. Through collaborations, Kevin is also working on nafion films, quantum dot ordering, and bio-programmable nanoparticle lattices.

• B.Sc.: McGill University
  • Major: Chemistry; Minor: Computer Science
• PhD: McGill University
  • Physical Chemistry
  • Dissertation Title: Investigation of Photomechanical Surface Patterning in Azobenzene Materials

• Postdoctoral Research: National Institute of Standards and Technology
  • Polymers Division
  • Project: Directed 3D Assembly of Block-copolymer Films

Johnston, D.E.; Yager, K.G.; Nam, C.-Y.; Ocko, B.M.; Black, C.T. "One-Volt Operation of High-Current Vertical Channel Polymer Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors" Nano Letters 2012, 8, 4181–4186.

Kang, S.J.; Kim, J.B.; Chiu, C.-Y.; Ahn, S.; Schiros, T.; Lee, S.S.; Yager, K.G.; Toney, M.F.; Loo, Y.-L.; Nuckolls, C. "A Supramolecular Complex in Small-Molecule Solar Cells based on Contorted Aromatic Molecules" Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2012, 34, 8594–8597.

Forrey, C.; Yager, K.G.; Broadaway, S.P. "Molecular Dynamics Study of the Role of the Free Surface on Block Copolymer Thin Film Morphology and Alignment" ACS Nano 2011, 5, 2895–2907.

Yager, K.G.; Fredin, N.J.; Zhang, X.; Berry, B.C.; Karim, A.; Jones, R.L. "Evolution of block-copolymer order through a moving thermal zone" Soft Matter 2010, 1, 92–99.

Yager, K.G.; Berry, B.C.; Page, K.; Patton, D.; Karim, A.; Amis, E.J. "Disordered Nanoparticle Interfaces for Directed Self-Assembly" Soft Matter 2009, 5, 622–628.