Institute for Functional Nanomaterials

Nanoscientist

University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus

Biography

Perales is a Metallurgist graduated from the Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería (UNI) in Perú. After working in the School of Metallurgy at UNI as a professor and consultant engineer for more than 10 years, Oscar moved to the Institute for Advanced Materials Processing, Tohoku University in Japan, where he got his Ph.D. in Materials Processing in 1998. Perales was invited to join the Center for Interdisciplinary Research, Tohoku University (CIRTU) as a Visiting Associate Professor in November 1998. At CIRTU he was involved in research related to size-controlled synthesis and characterization of nanostructures and development of sizeselective separation methods for nanosize polydisperse crystals. Perales also worked as a member of the research team SONY-Tohoku University, being co-inventor of processes related to the size-controlled synthesis of magnetic nanomaterials.

Perales is with the Department of Engineering Science and Materials of the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus (URPM) since 2002 and his current research interest involves the size, shape and structure-controlled synthesis of nanostructures (nanocrystals and thin films) for spintronics, high-density storage, electronic cooling and magnetocaloric applications. New research initiatives in nano-medicine are focused on the processing of quantum dots for Photo Dynamic Cancer Therapy (PDT). Perales projects are oriented towards the testbed stage through the Institute for Functional Nanomaterials (IFN) and strategic partners at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (MRSEC and MSE Department) and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Florida. The competitiveness of Perales' work is demonstrated by the support he receives from several agencies including the National Science Foundation, the United States Department of Defense, the United States Department of Education, IDEAS, the United States Geological Survey, the Puerto Rico Water Resources and Environmental Research Institute, the Toyota Foundation, The Water Management Authority and The Waste Solid Management Authority. He is also Co-director of the 5-years NSF-PREM Project on Functional and Nanostructured Materials.

Perales, two times Distinguished Professor of the College of Engineering at UPRM, is author of more than 50 scientific and technological publications in materials processing and nanotechnology. He has also participated as invited panelist for the National Science Foundation SBIRT/STTR Program since 2003 (Functional Nanotechnologies and Advanced Materials).

Teams

Cluster III: Multifunctional Nanostructures

Phone

+1-787-832-4040 ext. 3071

Mailing address

Department of General Engineering, Materials Science, and Engineering
University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus
Mayagüez, PR 00681

E-mail

operales ifn upr edu

Education

• Ph.D. in Materials Processing, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan (1998)
• B.Sc. in Metallurgy, Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería (1986)

Appointments

2004–present

Associate Professor, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico

Honors and awards

• Distinguised Professor 2005-2006 — Contribution to research and education to UPRM, U of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez ()
• Distinguised Professor 2003-2004 — Contribution to Reeaarch and Education, U of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez ()
• First Prize in Research — Oustandong Research: Use of crumb rubber to remove heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions, Interamerican Society of Sanitary Engineering and Environmental Sciences (AIDIS) ()
• Honorary Fellow University of Wisconsin-Madison — Contribution to Materials Science as part of the NSF-PREM Project, University of Wisconsin-Madison ()
• President of the Peruvian Materials Science Sc. Committe.(2006-now) — Contribution to Research and Education, Encuentro Cientifico Internacional-Peru ()
• Invited Panelist (2004-now) — Reviewer for NSF-SBIR/STTR Program, National Science Foundation ()
• Distinguished Professor 2006-2007 — Excellency in Research and Education at the College of Engineering, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, College of Engineering ()

Publications

1. E. Calderón-Ortiz, G. Gutierrez, O. J. Perales, M. S. Tomar, and P. Voyles, "MnxZn1-xFe2-yRyO4 (R = Gd, Eu) Ferrite Nanocrystals for Potential Magnetocaloric Applications", Microelectronics Journal, (2009)
2. S. Jauregui, W. Jia, and O. J. Perales, "Optical and luminescent properties of highly oriented nanocrystalline Gd2-xEuxO3 thin films. ", Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. , 1111, D04-11 (2009)
3. C. Osorio and O. J. Perales, "Synthesis and characterization of metastable nanocrystalline cobalt", J. Appl. Phys., , 105, (2009)
4. Y. Cedeño and O. J. Perales, "Synthesis of high-coercivity cobalt ferrite nanocrystals", Microelectronics Journal, (2009)
5. O. J. Perales and A. Velasco, "Preparation of Copper-Bearing Nanofluids for Thermal Applications", NANOTECH, 1, 424 (2008)
6. E. Fachini, S. Jauregui, W. Jia, O. J. Perales, M. S. Tomar, and O. Vasquez, "Structural and Luminesence properties of nanocrystalline Eu3+ -doped Gd2O3", Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc., 1074, 10 (2008)
7. J. Hwang, A. Parra-Palomino, O. J. Perales, R. Singhal, M. S. Tomar, and P. M. Voyles, "Structural, optical, and Magnetic Characterization of monodisperse Fe- Doped ZnO Nanocrystals", J. Appl. Phys, 103, 07D121 (2008)
8. F. Fachini, S. Jauregui-Rojas, W. Jia, O. J. Perales, M. S. Tomar, and O. Vasquez, "Synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline EU3+ doped Gd2O3", NSTI-NanoTech, 1, 990 (2008)
9. Y. Cedeño-Matei, O. J. Perales, F. Roman, W. G. Stratton, M. S. Tomar, and P. M. Voyles, "Tuning of Magnetic Properties in Cobalt ferrite Nanocrystals", J. Appl. Phys., 103, 07E512 (2008)
10. E. Calderon, G. Gutierrez, O. J. Perales, and S. Urcia, "Composition and size-controlled synthesis of Gd-doped MnZn ferrite nanocrystals", NANOTECH,
11. Y. Cedeño, O. J. Perales, and O. Uwakweh, "Effect of Rare Earth Doping on Magnetic Properties of Cobalt Ferrite. ", NANOTECH,
12. C. Osorio and O. J. Perales, "Phase-Controlled Synthesis of Metastable Nanocrystalline Cobalt", NANOTECH,
13. T. Luna, O. J. Perales, and F. Roman, "Removal of heavy-metals from aqueous solutions with calcium alginate beads. ", NANOTECH,
14. T. Luna, O. J. Perales, and F. Roman, "Synthesis and Characterization of Alginate Based-Magnetic Nanocomposites", NANOTECH,
15. O. J. Perales and S. Urcia, "Synthesis and characterization of Co-Zn ferrite nanocrystals for magnetocaloric applications. ", NANOTECH,
16. D. Mazuera, O. J. Perales, and S. Singh, "Synthesis and Characterization of Polyimide-Cobalt Ferrite Nanocomposites. ", NANOTECH,
17. D. Mazuera, O. J. Perales, and M. Suarez, "Thermal Analysis of Polyimide-Cobalt Ferrite Nanocomposites", NANOTECH,

Grants

1. J. Lopez, O. J. Perales, C. Rinaldi, S. Singh, and M. Suarez. Partnership on Research and Education on Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, National Science Foundation, PREM, 0 years, September 2009, Multiple PIs, Pending, $3,500,000.
2. O. J. Perales, F. Roman, and M. deJesus. Acquisition of a LC/MS (Q-TOF LC/MS), System for Interdisciplinary Research/Training for the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM), National Science Foundation, MRI, 0 years, September 2009, Multiple PIs, Pending, $438,915.
3. M. Pando, O. J. Perales, and R. Ramos. Tire derived aggregate as a sustainable retaining wall backfill , National Science Foundation, CBET, 0 years, March 2009, Multiple PIs, Pending, $96,968.
4. N. Cardona, A. J. Hernández, P. Kohl, A. M. Padovani, O. J. Perales, R. G. Raptis, C. Rinaldi, J. Santos, N. Sepúlveda, G. Serrano, D. Suleiman, O. M. Suárez, and M. Torres. Nanotechnology Center for Biomedical and Energy Driven Systems and Applications (NCBEDSA), National Science Foundation, CREST, 5 years, September 2008, Multiple PIs, Approved, $5,000,000.
5. O. Auciello, S. Bader, D. Bonnell, S. Desu, L. F. Fonseca, M. Gómez, S. Hong, Y. Ishikawa, R. S. Katiyar, V. Makarov, A. R. Mayol, G. Morell, W. Otaño, R. Palai, O. J. Perales, A. Petford-Long, R. Ramesh, A. Rastogi, R. Thomas, and M. S. Tomar. Development and Understanding of Multifunctional Nanostructures for Spintronics and Magnetoelectrics Applications, United States Department of Energy, EPSCoR, 3 years, September 2008, Multiple PIs, Approved, $2,245,000.
6. A. Acevedo, Z. Iqbal, O. J. Perales, R. Romanach, and L. S. Taylor. MRI: Acquisition of NIR Chemical Imaging Spectrometer to Study Novel Organic Composites, National Science Foundation, MRI, 2 years, August 2008, Multiple PIs, Approved, $295,975.
7. G. Gutierrez, O. J. Perales, and C. Rinaldi. Magnetocaloric Effect Using a Magnetic Monodisperse Nanofluid with a Low Curie Temperature for Electronic Cooling Applications, United States Department of Defense, ARO, 4 years, October 2006, Single PI, Approved, $404,127.
8. O. J. Perales, O. Uwakweh, and P. Voyles. Acquisition of STEM Imaging and Microanalysis for the University of Wisconsin, Madison and the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, National Science Foundation, MRI, 3 years, September 2006, Multiple PIs, Approved, $567,135.
9. G. Gutierrez and O. J. Perales. Magnetocaloric Effect Using a Magnetic Monodisperse Nanofluid with a Low Curie Temperature for Electronic Cooling Applications , United States Department of Defense, HBCU, 3 years, June 2006, Multiple PIs, Approved, $410,000.
10. O. J. Perales, C. Rinaldi, O. M. Suarez, M. S. Tomar, and O. N. Uwakweh. Synergetic partnership in research and education on functional and nanostructure materials, National Science Foundation, PREM, 5 years, July 2004, Single PI, Approved, $2,700,000.